Quote:
Originally Posted by JoeRedskin
From wikipedia, it only mentions basketball players: Microfracture surgery - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Use in professional sports
There have been many notable professional athletes who have undergone the procedure. Partially because of the high level of stress placed on the knees by these athletes, the surgery is not a panacea and results have been mixed. Many players' careers effectively end despite the surgery. However, some players such as Jason Kidd, Steve Yzerman, John Stockton,Kenyon Martin, Antonio McDyess and Zach Randolph have been able to return at or near their pre-surgery form while players Brian Grant, Chris Webber, Allan Houston and Penny Hardaway never regained their old form. Others such as Jamal Mashburn and Terrell Brandon never recovered and retired. Portland Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden underwent the procedure in early September 2007 and missed the entire 2007-2008 NBA season. At only 19 at the time of the surgery, doctors are confident that he will return to at or near full strength by the 2008-2009 season. Rockets Superstar Tracy McGrady also under went microfracture surgery, doctors are confident that the 2 time scoring champion will return to full strength.
In October 2005, young star Amare Stoudemire of the NBA's Phoenix Suns underwent one of the highest-profile microfracture surgeries to date. He returned to the court in March 2006 and initially appeared to have made a full recovery, but subsequently started feeling stiffness in both knees (his right knee had been overcompensating for the injured left knee). He and the team doctor decided he needed more time to rehab and he did not return until the 2006-2007 NBA season. During the 2006-2007 season, Stoudemire returned to form, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while playing in all 82 regular-season games and the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. His recent success has brought positive publicity to the procedure, further distancing it from a previous reputation as a possible "career death sentence" in the sports world, though he was one of the youngest of the aforementioned players to undergo the surgery." |
According to this then, it seems the youth factor is of the most importance. Kelly certainly has that going for him.
Just to play devil's advocate, Stoudemire dropped almost 6 points a game despite raising his FT% and FG% after the surgery...meaning he took fewer chances, or couldn't take as many due to the slowed knees. (keep in mind he had a league high 795 FT attempts before the injury and only 585 after while playing in all 82 games.) He also dropped significantly in assists, and dropped in blocks as well as raised his turnovers.
Correct me if I am wrong, but didn't A.S. miss about 30 games this year due to his knee?
Don't get me wrong, he certainly has returned to be a great player, but I would argue he is not his old form.