On a limb: microfracture knee surgery has left Suns forward Amare Stoudemire at a career precipice: risk long-term damage by returning this season for a shot at a title or play it safe by waiting till next season

Sporting News, The, March 31, 2006 by Stan McNeal

* The location of the lesion, on the lower part of the femur on the inside of the knee, was not on a weight-bearing joint.

Throughout rehab, Carter says Stoudemire has been an ideal patient, willing to work hard but smart enough to know not to rush the process. Stoudemire's attitude certainly has impressed Suns big-man coach Marc Iavaroni, who says, "I respect the hell out of this kid for how he's worked."

Stoudemire has said all along that, "I am going to come back when I am completely ready."

No one has told him to do anything different. Though Stoudemire says he has been cleared to play by the team, no one in the Suns organization has said anything that might even be considered an attempt to rush him. Point guard Steve Nash went so far as to talk about the potential difficulty of working Stoudemire into the flow of the Suns' breakneck approach, which also could be Nash's way of telling Stoudemire to take his time. TNT motormouth Charles Barkley repeatedly has said Stoudemire should wait until next season to return. Magic Johnson has talked about how long it takes to regain the confidence to cut loose and play without thinking about an injury, and there likely isn't enough of the season left for Stoudemire to accomplish that.

On the flip side, this probably is the best opportunity the Suns ever have had to win a championship. Only the Pistons, Spurs and Mavericks have better records than the Suns, and all have shown signs of vulnerability, if Stoudemire, after signing that maximum-dollar contract extension, can help the franchise win its first title, doesn't he owe it to the Suns to try? Don't forget, he averaged 37.0 points and 9.8 rebounds in last season's Western Conference finals. Though doctors indicate Stoudemire's age likely is an advantage in helping him regain his freakish skills, they also point out that if he's having cartilage problems at such a young age, he is more likely to have additional knee trouble in the future. Waiting until next season would give Stoudemire seven additional months to return to full strength.

Penny Hardaway has said it took him 2 1/2 years before he was over the surgery. Chris Webber was told it was a two-year injury. Jason Kidd, one of the few to have a successful return from microfracture surgery, says the key to his recovery was patience. Stoudemire has shown plenty of patience, too--so far. Let's hope he doesn't change now.

Why microfracture surgery?

A small amount of damage to the articular cartilage on the inner portion of his left femur has kept Amare Stoudemire on the sideline all season.

'It's a serious transition'.

Chris Webber knows what Amare Stoudemire is facing. Webber has been through it.

Three years ago, Webber was at the top of his game and playing for one of the league's best teams. Then his left knee crumpled when he went up for an alley-oop in the second game of the Kings' second-round playoff series against the Mavericks. The result was surgery that robbed Webber of much of his athleticism for more than two years.