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Suns All-Star Stoudemire out four months
(AP)
Updated: 2005-10-12 09:35
PHOENIX - The Phoenix Suns will be without all-star forward Amare Stoudemire
for about four months after he underwent surgery to repair damage to his injured
left knee Tuesday.
Phoenix Suns
forward Amare Stoudemire hangs from the rim after a slam dunk against
Utah, in Phoenix, in this March 12, 2004
photo.[AP] | The extent of the injury was
determined during "diagnostic" surgery by team doctor Thomas Carter, who then
proceeded with the repair, Suns president Bryan Colangelo said.
Stoudemire, who turns 23 next month, signed a five-year, $73 million contract
extension last week, the maximum allowed under the NBA's collective bargaining
agreement with the players union.
Colangelo said the team knew of Stoudemire's knee problem during contract
negotiations, but was not aware of the extent until Tuesday's surgery. The team
projects Stoudemire to return around the All-Star break Feb. 17-21.
Carter detected the defect in an MRI exam several weeks ago and initially
dealt with it through treatment and rest.
Stoudemire first talked about the soreness several weeks ago. After it
worsened during last week's training camp in Tucson, he sought the opinions of
three doctors before giving Carter the go-ahead for arthroscopic surgery.
"Dr. Carter, in consultation with Amare, chose the best course of action in
terms of treating it aggressively and taking care of it now rather than letting
it become a lingering problem," Colangelo said.
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