Samr
10-05-2007, 05:48 PM
WILMINGTON, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte Bobcats forward Sean May will miss the season after deciding to undergo microfracture surgery on his troublesome right knee.
May, who saw two knee specialists this week, will have the surgery performed Tuesday in New York. Recovery time will take six to 12 months.
"Obviously this is a terrible blow for our basketball team and another setback for Sean," Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said. "We want what's best for him, and unfortunately that requires surgery."
May, the 13th pick in the 2005 draft, has played in only 58 of 164 games over the past two seasons. He had surgery to remove cartilage during his rookie season, then developed a bone bruise last year.
He had been undergoing an extensive offseason program, but was still troubled by knee pain. May missed the start of training camp to see knee specialists in New York and Alabama.
He decided to have the surgery performed by Dr. David Altchek in New York. He'll be on crutches for six to eight weeks before beginning his rehabilitation.
"We are hopeful that his procedure will allow him to resume his career and be the player he wants to be," Bobcats team physician Glenn Perry said.
The procedure includes creating tiny fractures in adjacent bones around the knee to try to create knee cartilage. The surgery was once considered risky, but several football and basketball players have made successful recoveries in recent years.
No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers underwent microfracture surgery last month.
The 6-foot-9 May has averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in his limited playing time, including a 32-point game against Orlando last season.
May's injury leaves the Bobcats thin in the frontcourt. Forward Othella Harrington is out for the preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and center Primoz Brezec has yet to report camp to tend to a family matter.
May's absence will likely lead to more playing time for rookie Jared Dudley, the 22nd pick in the draft.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/specials/preview/2007/10/05/may.bobcats.ap/index.html)
May, who saw two knee specialists this week, will have the surgery performed Tuesday in New York. Recovery time will take six to 12 months.
"Obviously this is a terrible blow for our basketball team and another setback for Sean," Bobcats coach Sam Vincent said. "We want what's best for him, and unfortunately that requires surgery."
May, the 13th pick in the 2005 draft, has played in only 58 of 164 games over the past two seasons. He had surgery to remove cartilage during his rookie season, then developed a bone bruise last year.
He had been undergoing an extensive offseason program, but was still troubled by knee pain. May missed the start of training camp to see knee specialists in New York and Alabama.
He decided to have the surgery performed by Dr. David Altchek in New York. He'll be on crutches for six to eight weeks before beginning his rehabilitation.
"We are hopeful that his procedure will allow him to resume his career and be the player he wants to be," Bobcats team physician Glenn Perry said.
The procedure includes creating tiny fractures in adjacent bones around the knee to try to create knee cartilage. The surgery was once considered risky, but several football and basketball players have made successful recoveries in recent years.
No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden of the Portland Trail Blazers underwent microfracture surgery last month.
The 6-foot-9 May has averaged 10.4 points and 5.9 rebounds in his limited playing time, including a 32-point game against Orlando last season.
May's injury leaves the Bobcats thin in the frontcourt. Forward Othella Harrington is out for the preseason after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery and center Primoz Brezec has yet to report camp to tend to a family matter.
May's absence will likely lead to more playing time for rookie Jared Dudley, the 22nd pick in the draft.
Copyright 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
link (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/specials/preview/2007/10/05/may.bobcats.ap/index.html)