HoustonRockets guard Tracy McGrady will undergo season-ending microfracturesurgery on his left knee in Chicago on Tuesday, Feb. 24. Rockets TeamPhysician Tom Clanton will assist Dr. Brian Cole with the procedure.McGrady played in 35 games this season and finishes with averages of15.6 points, 5.0 assists and 4.4 rebounds.
Press conference with Dr. Tom Clanton and Head Trainer Keith Jones scheduled for 3 PM (CST) today.
Houston Rockets star Tracy McGrady is having season-ending surgery on his left knee.
McGrady has been bothered all season by soreness. The procedure is scheduled for Tuesday in Chicago.
Theteam had never officially confirmed McGrady would have surgery, andgeneral manager Daryl Morey said last week that the Rockets wanted totalk to McGrady about his decision.
McGrady first revealedthat he would undergo microfracture surgery in an interview with ESPN'sStephen A. Smith last Tuesday. McGrady then made a public announcementon his Web site the following day.
McGrady has been consultingwith doctors since the All-Star break. He's missed Houston's last fourgames and 21 overall because of lingering soreness in the knee, theaftermath of arthroscopic surgery last May.
The seven-time All-Star was averaging 15.6 points, five assists and 4.4 rebounds.
Theprocedure is considered much less risky for McGrady because the jointsurface damage unprotected by the usual amount of cartilage is lessthan a half centimeter, requiring less cartilage replacement, andbecause the lesion is on a non-weight bone bearing bone beneath thekneecap.
Clanton also was optimistic because he saidMcGrady has an otherwise "great looking" knee joint in the weightbearing parts of the joint, with normal ligaments and meniscuscartilages.
The surgery will create small holes in thebone at the base of the articular cartilage to allow blood to formclots with bone marrow elements that will produce a new cartilagesurface.
