Walton still on the DL.

NBA fans may have noticed a glaring absence from broadcasts on ABC and ESPN for the past several weeks.

Bill Walton, lead analyst for NBA pregame shows on both ABC and ESPN, has been out for over a month due to a back injury. Walton has been suffering from “a pinched nerve in his back and an aching hip.”

ABC has replaced Walton with Jon Barry for the time being, while ESPN has called on a rotating stable of analysts from Jalen Rose to Rick Carlisle. With the NBA Playoffs starting in a mere fifteen days, how much longer will Walton be out?

Walton’s son, Lakers forward Luke Walton, told the Associated Press his father is “[s]lowly getting better.”

“His back is all jacked up. He’s going through a tough time right now … He can’t go into the arenas and sit in those chairs. He definitely can’t get on a plane. He said that’s the most painful thing. He can barely get into a car right now.”