Toronto Raptors forward DeMarre Carroll has been sidelined with a foot injury for the past three games and we now appear to know its source: A change of his shoes.
Raptors head coach Dwane Casey joined Prime Time Sports on Thursday evening and touched on Carroll’s bout of plantar fasciitis in his right foot.
“When he changed shoes for some odd reason after training camp, his foot just kept getting sorer and sorer and developed the plantar fasciitis,” Casey told hosts Bob McCown and Dave Perkins on Sportsnet 590 The Fan, adding that with some rest the hope is that Carroll will return soon.
The Raptors signed Carroll to a four-year, $60-million deal in the summer. He’s played in six games this season, averaging 12.3 points, 4.8 rebounds and 35.7 minutes.
When he’s been on the court, the 29-year-old Carroll has vastly exceeded the club’s expectations, Casey said.
“Yes, he is (better than we thought),” Casey reflected, before listing off Carroll’s impressive qualities. “His knowledge of the game; his intellect, as far as what other teams are trying to do, what you should do; his quiet talk to the players out on the court.
“He’s not a demonstrative guy – he’s quiet. But he’s a quiet, tough leader and he is better than advertised.”
