More Surgery for PJax

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Lakers Coach Phil Jackson is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning to have his left hip replaced, eight months after having his right one replaced.

Jackson, 61, was able to walk with a cane within a week of his operation last October. He required a month of recovery time before he was able to travel with the team. He is expected to be fully recovered for his induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame in September in Springfield, Mass.

The procedure will be performed by Lawrence Dorr at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center in Inglewood. Jackson is expected to be released from the hospital Wednesday or Thursday.

Jackson, who played 12 seasons in the NBA, took the first step toward eliminating a years-long limp with his hip-replacement surgery last year. He still sat on a specially designed chair on the Lakers' bench during games but reported feeling markedly better overall.</div>

Source: LA Times

 

<div class="quote_poster">YourNewChef Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">This has to be the downfall of big NBA athletes. I bet players like Shaq, Charles Barkley, and Patrick Ewing will have to undergo similiar surgery later or start to have arthritic related pains.</div>

This is the downfall for bigs who don't take care of their bodies when they're younger.

I'm sure the training techniques and improved shoe technology would have aided PJax, but it just wasn't available when he played.

However, if you look at Kareem, he moves around just fine because he took care of his body. Also Hakeem is looking fantastic from the videos I've seem working out with Yao Ming.

Barkley was constantly overweight, and same with Shaq. Their joints weren't made for that added weight combined with the rigors of the NBA.

 

<div class="quote_poster">YourNewChef Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Well yeah if you are big and dont train and keep in shape, you're chances of surgery are greater, but these bigs who do keep in shape but have alot of weight to carry have to be in jeopardy too.</div>

Absolutely.

I just hope PJax recovers fast enough to travel around without a lot of discomfort. I know he counted on his assistants last year because of his health, and if Rambis and/or Shaw land headcoaching jobs, there's going to be a void on that sideline and in practices.