Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Dwight Howard won't need surgery
ESPN.com news services
Los Angeles Lakers center Dwight Howard will not need surgery to repair the torn labrum in his right shoulder, the team said in a statement.
Howard, who will become an unrestricted free agent this offseason, was examined on Wednesday by Dr. James Tibone of the Kerlan Jobe Orthopaedic Group.
"I'm going to do whatever I can to get myself right this offseason," said Howard, who spent last summer away from basketball while he rehabbed from back surgery, at his exit interview Tuesday. "Last year, I didn't have the opportunity to get in the gym once before the season. I didn't have the opportunity to grow and develop as a player, but that's something I'm looking forward to."
The shoulder was first injured in a Jan. 4 game against the Los Angeles Clippers and forced Howard to miss a total of six games.
In his first year with the Lakers, Howard averaged 17.1 points and a league-leading 12.4 rebounds per game for a team that was decimated by injuries and was swept out of the first round of the playoffs by the San Antonio Spurs.
ESPNLosAngeles.com's Dave McMenamin contributed to this report.
