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All-Star Suns forward Amare Stoudemire had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Wednesday and won't play again this season.
The operation followed a comeback that lasted just three games. He had missed the first 66 games of the season after surgery on his left knee.
In the latest operation, debris caused by wear and tear of the kneecap was removed, the team said. Stoudemire will be on crutches for a week to 10 days and could resume basketball in six to eight weeks.
"They just cleaned up some stuff," coach and general manager Mike D'Antoni said. "There's nothing structurally wrong."
Stoudemire's Oct. 11 surgery came a week after he signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $70 million. He returned to the lineup March 23, scoring 20 points in 19 minutes against Portland. But his production dropped dramatically in his next two games, and Stoudemire's mobility was a problem. He missed the next four games before deciding on arthroscopic surgery.
D'Antoni said he wouldn't second-guess the decision to have Stoudemire return less than six months after surgery.
"There was no risk of him re-injuring his knee," D'Antoni said.
Stoudemire's next game could be with the U.S. team that plays in the FIBA world championships in Japan this summer.
"He'll start rehabbing next week, and I'd imagine his goal is to start getting ready for Team USA," said D'Antoni, an assistant on the U.S. team.
D'Antoni brushed aside the suggestion that Stoudemire's absence will hurt Phoenix as it bids for a first NBA title. Phoenix has all but locked up the second overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
"I think we still have a shot," D'Antoni said. "I think we can play with anybody. I think our players are looking forward to showing what they've got."
Guard Steve Nash pointed to the Suns' 109-102 loss to Detroit Sunday as a reason for optimism. Playing their fifth road game in seven days, the Suns took a 17-point lead before collapsing against the Pistons, who have a league-best 34-3 record at home.
"We're right there," Nash said. "We've got a lot to overcome, but that's one of the big, physical teams and we were right there."
With Stoudemire dominating in the paint, the Suns reached the Western Conference finals last year, and they opened training camp last fall as a bonafide title contender. After Stoudemire underwent surgery, some observers questioned whether Phoenix would make the playoffs this season. But the Suns thrived in his absence, taking a commanding lead in the Pacific Division with their style, which emphasizes speed and shooting over size and strength.
The Suns struggled to work Stoudemire into their offense during his brief return. Now that he's gone for the rest of the year, Phoenix will revert to a smaller lineup featuring 6-foot-8 Boris Diaw as a pass-oriented center.
The Suns' biggest concern remains rebounding and interior defense, both of which are far better with a healthy Stoudemire. Opponents average 46.1 rebounds per game against Phoenix, most in the NBA.
The Suns hope 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brian Grant, who missed 52 games after right knee surgery, will take up some of the slack. Grant injured his ankle at home Monday but may be available Wednesday night when the Suns play host to the Los Angeles Clippers. He's averaging 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 9.6 minutes in 14 games this year.
The Suns don't expect 6-9, 235-pound Kurt Thomas, who has missed 17 games with a stress fracture in his right foot, to return until the second round of the playoffs. Thomas' 7.8 rebounds per game is second on the club to Shawn Marion, with 12.1.
Source: AP
The operation followed a comeback that lasted just three games. He had missed the first 66 games of the season after surgery on his left knee.
In the latest operation, debris caused by wear and tear of the kneecap was removed, the team said. Stoudemire will be on crutches for a week to 10 days and could resume basketball in six to eight weeks.
"They just cleaned up some stuff," coach and general manager Mike D'Antoni said. "There's nothing structurally wrong."
Stoudemire's Oct. 11 surgery came a week after he signed a five-year contract extension worth more than $70 million. He returned to the lineup March 23, scoring 20 points in 19 minutes against Portland. But his production dropped dramatically in his next two games, and Stoudemire's mobility was a problem. He missed the next four games before deciding on arthroscopic surgery.
D'Antoni said he wouldn't second-guess the decision to have Stoudemire return less than six months after surgery.
"There was no risk of him re-injuring his knee," D'Antoni said.
Stoudemire's next game could be with the U.S. team that plays in the FIBA world championships in Japan this summer.
"He'll start rehabbing next week, and I'd imagine his goal is to start getting ready for Team USA," said D'Antoni, an assistant on the U.S. team.
D'Antoni brushed aside the suggestion that Stoudemire's absence will hurt Phoenix as it bids for a first NBA title. Phoenix has all but locked up the second overall seed in the Western Conference playoffs.
"I think we still have a shot," D'Antoni said. "I think we can play with anybody. I think our players are looking forward to showing what they've got."
Guard Steve Nash pointed to the Suns' 109-102 loss to Detroit Sunday as a reason for optimism. Playing their fifth road game in seven days, the Suns took a 17-point lead before collapsing against the Pistons, who have a league-best 34-3 record at home.
"We're right there," Nash said. "We've got a lot to overcome, but that's one of the big, physical teams and we were right there."
With Stoudemire dominating in the paint, the Suns reached the Western Conference finals last year, and they opened training camp last fall as a bonafide title contender. After Stoudemire underwent surgery, some observers questioned whether Phoenix would make the playoffs this season. But the Suns thrived in his absence, taking a commanding lead in the Pacific Division with their style, which emphasizes speed and shooting over size and strength.
The Suns struggled to work Stoudemire into their offense during his brief return. Now that he's gone for the rest of the year, Phoenix will revert to a smaller lineup featuring 6-foot-8 Boris Diaw as a pass-oriented center.
The Suns' biggest concern remains rebounding and interior defense, both of which are far better with a healthy Stoudemire. Opponents average 46.1 rebounds per game against Phoenix, most in the NBA.
The Suns hope 6-foot-9, 254-pound Brian Grant, who missed 52 games after right knee surgery, will take up some of the slack. Grant injured his ankle at home Monday but may be available Wednesday night when the Suns play host to the Los Angeles Clippers. He's averaging 2.8 points, 1.9 rebounds and 9.6 minutes in 14 games this year.
The Suns don't expect 6-9, 235-pound Kurt Thomas, who has missed 17 games with a stress fracture in his right foot, to return until the second round of the playoffs. Thomas' 7.8 rebounds per game is second on the club to Shawn Marion, with 12.1.
Source: AP