Monroe: Star-Crossed NBA Stars

[duncan228]

Edit: I meant to post this in NBA Central, please move if it needs to be.

Star-crossed NBA stars
Mike Monroe

The news Friday that surgery to repair a partially detached retina may cost Suns power forward Amare Stoudemire the remainder of the season provided a reminder that nearly every team is one key injury away from the draft lottery.

Stoudemire’s latest setback also informs that some players can’t seem to avoid misfortune. Left knee injuries have cost him major chunks of two seasons. Before his latest setback, he had suited up for only 79.3 percent (433 of 546) of regular-season games, a percentage that will drop to 75.4 percent by season’s end if he misses the Suns’ remaining regular-season games.

Then there is Tracy McGrady, who says he is scheduled for a microfracture procedure on his right knee that will cause him to miss the remainder of the Rockets’ season. By season’s end, he will have played in only 72.4 percent of the Rockets’ regular-season games since Houston acquired him before the 2004-05 season.

Some superstars are remarkably durable. Through Thursday’s game in Detroit, Tim Duncan had played in 876 of a possible 925 regular-season games for the Spurs, 94.7 percent. Reigning MVP Kobe Bryant has played in 91.5 percent of the Lakers’ 1,007 regular-season games.

Here is a look at the NBA’s most star-crossed stars:

Tracy McGrady, Rockets

- Latest injury/prognosis: Chronic tendinitis pain in left knee. McGrady visited a doctor last week and announced (on his personal Web site) that he will have microfracture surgery and will miss the remainder of the season.

- Other problems: Back ailments, assorted knee injuries and foot problems.

- Career history:
Games eligible — 954
Games played — 794
Percentage — 83.2

Amare Stoudemire, Suns

- Latest injury/prognosis: Partially detached retina suffered Wednesday required surgical repair Friday. Out for at least eight weeks.

- Other problems: Microfracture surgery required to repair left knee injury.

- Career history:
Games eligible — 546
Games played — 433
Percentage — 79.3

Kenyon Martin, Nuggets

- Latest injury/prognosis: Left Friday’s game against Bulls with back spasms. Listed as day-to-day.

- Other problems: Microfracture surgery on both knees. Missed all but two games of 2006-07 season.

- Career history:
Games eligible — 711
Games played — 531
Percentage — 74.7

Note: In four-plus seasons in Denver, he has played in only 248 of 383 possible games, 64.5 percent.

Gilbert Arenas, Wizards

- Latest injury/prognosis: Third surgical procedure on left knee completed in September; participating in one-on-one drills in practice, may return for limited play before season’s end.

- Other problems: Abdominal strain cost him 27 games in first season with Wizards. Sprained left knee injury cost him 69 games last season.

- Career history:
Games eligible — 629
Games played — 431
Percentage — 68.5

Carlos Boozer, Jazz

- Latest injury/prognosis: Arthroscopic surgery on left knee in January; targeted to return by end of February.

- Other problems: Hairline fracture of left fibula in 2007. Quadriceps tendinitis and hamstring caused him to miss 49 games of 2005-06 season.

- Career history:
Games eligible — 547
Games played — 407
Percentage — 74.4

Note: Percentage of his games played in four-plus seasons in Utah is 65.5.

[m33p0]

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[BlackSwordsMan]

manu, spurs

[honestfool84]

ginobili should be on that list, it seams.

[TMTTRIO]

Manu's not really the main star player on this team like the other guys are otherwise he probably would be on there.

[Kindergarten Cop]

Manu's not really the main star player on this team like the other guys are otherwise he probably would be on there.

IMHO, Manu is just as much of a star to the Spurs (if not moreso) than most of those guys on that list. You may have a point with McGrady (who still has Yao and Artest) - but Amar'e has Nash and Shaq, Martin has Billups and Anthony, Boozer has Williams, Kirilenko and Okur, and Arenas has Jamison and Butler.

[Felonius Monk]

Ginobili ~ 87%