WASHINGTON — Gilbert Arenas had a third operation on his left knee Wednesday, putting the Wizards in full spin mode as they face another season of uncertainty concerning their franchise player.
“I don’t know if it is a setback,” team president Ernie Grunfeld said.
Grunfeld might be the only one who can say that with a straight face. The star player who signed an $111 million contract in July seems almost certain to miss the early regular season at a minimum, dousing the team’s hopes of having a healthy campaign after the last two were wrecked by injuries to top players.
“It’s just an opportunity for other guys to step up and pick up the slack,” said Grunfeld, a sentiment he has uttered often.
The team said the arthroscopic procedure removed a “moderate amount of debris” from Arenas’ knee. Grunfeld offered no timetable for Arenas’ return, but Arenas told The Washington Post he plans to be back on the court in early December, which would rule him out for the first month of the season.
The surgery is the third on the knee in 17 months. Arenas missed 69 regular-season games last season and had to shut himself down during the playoffs. Still, Grunfeld expressed no regret about the decision to give Arenas a six- year, $111 million contract after the point guard opted for free agency during the offseason.
Verbal bombs bursting in air
DALLAS — The battered reputation of Josh Howard took another hit this week when an online video surfaced showing the Mavericks forward disrespecting the national anthem.
In a video posted on YouTube, Howard, who said last season he occasionally smokes marijuana and later threw himself a birthday bash after a playoff loss, is shown on a football field at a charity flag football game. As the national anthem plays in the background, Howard approaches a camera and says: ” ‘The Star-Spangled Banner’ is going on right now. I don’t even celebrate that (expletive). I’m black.”
76ers’ Smith undergoes surgery.
76ers center Jason Smith underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee in New York to repair an injury suffered early last month.
No timetable has been set for the former CSU standout’s return.
The Associated Press
