LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles Lakers coach Luke Walton says Andrew Bogut's groin injury is not serious and he expects the Australian centre to be ready for their opening game of the NBA regular season.
The groin injury struck Bogut just as he overcame a broken leg suffered last season playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers.
"We expect him back by the start of the season for sure," Walton, referring to the Lakers' regular season opener against the LA Clippers on October 19, said.
Bogut said the injury was minor.
"It's just a little tweak," Bogut told AAP.
"We're just being cautious more than anything.
"If it was a playoff game I'd be right to go but it's just one of those things that I have to be more careful right now because of the pre-season."
Bogut's arrival in LA continues his recent cross-country journey across the U.S. The Golden State Warriors traded Bogut to the Dallas Mavericks in July last year, he was flicked to the Philadelphia 76ers in February and almost immediately moved to the Cavaliers where he broke his leg 58 seconds into his debut game.
Bogut spent the next five and a half months rehabbing his leg in Melbourne, beating doctors' expectations it could take as long as nine months to heal.
The Lakers are a young team featuring rookie sensation Lonzo Ball and Bogut, 32, is looking forward to adding his experience to the squad.
Another issue he encountered was trying to find a number to wear because the Lakers, with their rich history of Hall of Fame players and retired jerseys including Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Shaquille O'Neal, left few options.
He has selected No.66 for no other reason other than it was available.
