Andre Roberson hopes to be back to himself by December

SAN ANTONIO (KOKH) — Thunder guard Andre Roberson's 2017-18 season was derailed by a ruptured left patellar tendon. He hopes to be back to himself, however, by December.

"My No. 1 goal right now is to come back 100-percent healthy and feeling comfortable like my self in the past with my movements and my overall feel for the game," Roberson told KABB in San Antonio.

"Sitting out a whole year away from a high level of basketball is going to be tough in terms of coming back. I'm not really putting a particular time on it, but I want to come back to myself somewhere in like December. So, it'd be great if it happened before. Christmas, that'd be great. But like I said, not putting a time on it. Just taking it a day at a time."

Roberson made no guarantees on his timetable for return, but he seems somewhat optimistic he can be back for the last few months of the 2018-19 season.

Roberson's been a regular starter for the Thunder since the 2014-15 season. He's primarily been a defensive specialist for the Thunder, but was on pace for his best shooting season (53.7 percent from the field) before his injury last year.

Oklahoma City opens their 2018-19 season with Golden State on Oct. 16.

While it might take time for Roberson to get back to 100 percent, Oklahoma City could use his talents with games against the likes of the Los Angeles Lakers, Houston, Utah and Minnesota slated for December.