Memphis Grizzlies' Stoudamire out for season
(Reuters)
Updated: 2006-01-04 08:52

MEMPHIS, Tenn. - Memphis Grizzlies point guard Damon Stoudamire had surgery on his right knee Tuesday and will miss the rest of the season.

Memphis Grizzlies Damon Stoudamire (C) goes up for a shot past Los Angeles Lakers Sasha Vujacic (L) and Kwame Brown during their NBA game in Los Angeles December 28, 2005. Memphis won 100-99 in overtime, and Stoudamire was Memphis' highest scorer with 25 points. [Reuters]

Stoudamire ruptured his right patellar tendon on a drive to the basket in the Grizzlies' 93-90 victory at Portland on Dec. 30. The team said there is no timetable for his return, but the 1995-96 Rookie of the Year will spend the rest of this season rehabilitating the injury.

Memphis coach Mike Fratello said surgeons did not find any other damage and were pleased with the repair.

"So much of it is what kind of attitude does the person have that you're dealing with," Fratello said. "There's not many people more positive than Damon. He will drive himself and work himself as hard as possible to get that leg back to where it was so he can resume his career next season."

Stoudamire, in his 11th season out of Arizona, signed as a free agent with the Grizzlies in August after eight seasons in Portland. He, along with Eddie Jones and Bobby Jackson, have brought a veteran presence and a better chemistry to the Memphis locker room.

He had started all 27 games he played before the injury, averaging 11.7 points and a team-leading 4.7 assists. Stoudamire also was the team's best free throw shooter at 85.5 percent.

Since Stoudamire's injury, Memphis has relied on Jackson, who is still recovering from a hamstring injury, and second-year guard Antonio Burks to run the offense.