<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Nothing scares Kenyon Martin, who plays basketball with a dare-me scowl. But he should be afraid, very afraid now. The NBA career of Martin appears to be in serious jeopardy. How could it not be? One of the most imposing bodies in the league is falling apart. After knee surgery that put a shocking, unexpected end to his season Wednesday, the real question is not when Martin can return to the lineup for the Nuggets, but if it will ever be possible for him to again play at the level that made the 28-year-old power forward an all-star in 2004. Something is wrong here. It smells bad, feels as if a star-crossed basketball career is all over except a slow fade to black. There's trouble for Martin betrayed by uncommonly nervous silence from Nuggets officials, who had been counting on him to miss no more than two months with his latest injury, not the entire season. Other than admitting his operation revealed more significant damage than expected, the team was extremely tight-lipped about his condition. The Nuggets refused to confirm or deny that Martin required the same painful microfracture surgery on his right knee that he endured on his left knee 18 months ago and forced him to play in a career-low 56 games last season. "This is not something we anticipated. It took us by surprise," said Rex Chapman, vice president of player personnel. "For the organization, it's a tough blow." Martin was supposed to make the Nuggets a championship contender. Instead, it now appears Martin will only cause Denver to curse and wonder what might have been. It could take Martin a year to return, if he can return at all. While it's a perfectly safe and increasingly common medical procedure, microfracture surgery can pose one of the more daunting challenges for any pro athlete. Far too early, the careers of NBA star Penny Hardaway and Broncos running back Terrell Davis were effectively ended after undergoing microfracture surgery. Although unavailable for comment Wednesday, Martin vowed last month his days as an all-star forward were not in the past, insisting: "If I'm healthy, I can play with anybody in this league on any given day. No doubt in my mind." Hasn't there already been enough pain, drama and controversy in the life of Martin since he signed a $93 million contract with Denver after being obtained two years ago in a trade from New Jersey? </div> Source
hmm...this smells like media fabrication to me. what reason is there to assume he might be done for good? if he is though...boy, oh boy. that really screws Denver for years and years having to pay that contract.
This must be really tough for Martin, I'm sure he really likes being out on the court scoring 18 ppg and dunking. For him to lose something he really enjoys and having another knee surgery must be a big downer for him.
