http://www.sacbee.com/kings/story/455106.html
Hawes' outlook on knee positive
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, October 26, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C9
LAS VEGAS – You'd never know Spencer Hawes wasn't healthy just yet.
Inside a practice gym at UNLV on Thursday, the Kings 7-foot center, whose rookie season has begun so inauspiciously, looked the part of an aerobics guru.
With an orange rubber band around his arms, legs, and midsection, and an exercise ball between his legs, he hopped, skipped and spun on the direction of Kings assistant athletic trainer Manny Romero.
Wednesday's workout wasn't any easier, with a 40-minute stint on the elliptical machine and a swimming session that entailed a rigorous water jog and plenty of conventional laps. The left knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery Oct. 10 held up through it all, just as Hawes expected.
"It's all good news on that front," said Hawes, who was expected to miss four to five weeks. "I know it's going to have its ups and downs, but at this point there's no reason to let it get to me. There's only one way to go with it."
On its own, Hawes having his knee scoped was of minor significance. But just days after the pre-training camp knee-twist, which led to the procedure, Hawes revealed he was part of the undesirable club as well while discussing Greg Oden's recent procedure in Portland.
At age 14, he underwent left knee microfracture surgery just before entering Seattle Prep High School, then had a follow-up procedure six months later. The local history being what it is, the revelation sparked chatter about former Kings forward Chris Webber and the microfracture procedure that led to his physical decline in 2003.
Hawes, having already endured the skepticism and Joe Kleine comparisons when he was drafted with the No. 10 pick in June, was under the knife and the microscope again.
The day of Hawes' surgery, a Seattle Times report insinuated a worse history of knee problems than previously believed, including an unattributed reference to "at least four (knee) procedures" before the latest.
For Hawes' part, he said the report and the doomsday predictions that follow all microfracture patients aren't based in reality. Including an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee entering his freshman season at Washington, he said he's had four surgeries in all.
"(Microfracture) has put guys out for a long time at once, but it hasn't really – to my knowledge – ruined any careers," Hawes said. "The older guys who have had it, it's obviously impacted. But in terms of guys who are young enough – to my knowledge, it's most effective before you're 22 or 23. The guys like me who have had it young seem like they've bounced back."
Hawes said Dr. Lawrence Holland, his Seattle-based doctor who also performed his microfracture, took pictures of the microfracture area during his latest procedure to check on the status of the five-year-old work. With tiny fractures being made in the bone to produce blood clots that serve as cartilage, the virtual buffer, Hawes said, remains strong.
"He said it looks like normal cartilage, said it looks like it's 100 percent," Hawes said. "It blends in and does its job."
The location on the knee where the surgery took place, Hawes said, is also beneficial for the long-term prognosis.
"For me, (the microfracture) was at a point where I have to extend my knee pretty far to ... where it becomes weight bearing," he said. "If I'm running, that spot isn't (taking stress)."
The real stress is over for now, with Hawes more consumed with the new duties that come with being in the NBA. He has, if only unofficially, been designated as Brad Miller's personal rookie, a far from glamorous role that comes with running errands for Miller and toting his luggage when asked. It's the least his teammate can do to help pass the time during recovery.
"That's just the start of it," Miller said. "He doesn't realize all the tedious (stuff) he'll have to do."
Miller said he's more than willing to help Hawes along on the floor, well aware the youngster is the center of the future but not quite ready to relinquish his role.
"Before he hurt his knee we played a couple nights down at the practice facility and I got a chance to see what he could do," Miller said. "I'm excited for him to get back. I think he can help us out."
With a side benefit of helping Miller as well.
"It makes you a little bit sharper having a young guy with a similar game to mine," Miller said. "It makes it more exciting to be able to teach him and kind of show him some of the tricks. Not all of the tricks right away, but I'll stick around for another (two years), finish this (contract) out, and then I'll unload the whole book to him."
With the book on Hawes as yet unwritten, he's just eager to move past the painful prologue and pen his early chapters.
"(The skepticism) doesn't bother me at all, because I know how good I am," Hawes said. "At every level, there's going to be people who say, 'Oh, his game's not going to translate, he's not strong enough, he needs to work on his body, he's not athletic enough. ... I've been hearing that stuff over and over again. I just feel like, watch me play, and that should settle it."
About the writer: Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
Hawes' outlook on knee positive
By Sam Amick - samick@sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Friday, October 26, 2007
Story appeared in SPORTS section, Page C9
LAS VEGAS – You'd never know Spencer Hawes wasn't healthy just yet.
Inside a practice gym at UNLV on Thursday, the Kings 7-foot center, whose rookie season has begun so inauspiciously, looked the part of an aerobics guru.
With an orange rubber band around his arms, legs, and midsection, and an exercise ball between his legs, he hopped, skipped and spun on the direction of Kings assistant athletic trainer Manny Romero.
Wednesday's workout wasn't any easier, with a 40-minute stint on the elliptical machine and a swimming session that entailed a rigorous water jog and plenty of conventional laps. The left knee that underwent arthroscopic surgery Oct. 10 held up through it all, just as Hawes expected.
"It's all good news on that front," said Hawes, who was expected to miss four to five weeks. "I know it's going to have its ups and downs, but at this point there's no reason to let it get to me. There's only one way to go with it."
On its own, Hawes having his knee scoped was of minor significance. But just days after the pre-training camp knee-twist, which led to the procedure, Hawes revealed he was part of the undesirable club as well while discussing Greg Oden's recent procedure in Portland.
At age 14, he underwent left knee microfracture surgery just before entering Seattle Prep High School, then had a follow-up procedure six months later. The local history being what it is, the revelation sparked chatter about former Kings forward Chris Webber and the microfracture procedure that led to his physical decline in 2003.
Hawes, having already endured the skepticism and Joe Kleine comparisons when he was drafted with the No. 10 pick in June, was under the knife and the microscope again.
The day of Hawes' surgery, a Seattle Times report insinuated a worse history of knee problems than previously believed, including an unattributed reference to "at least four (knee) procedures" before the latest.
For Hawes' part, he said the report and the doomsday predictions that follow all microfracture patients aren't based in reality. Including an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee entering his freshman season at Washington, he said he's had four surgeries in all.
"(Microfracture) has put guys out for a long time at once, but it hasn't really – to my knowledge – ruined any careers," Hawes said. "The older guys who have had it, it's obviously impacted. But in terms of guys who are young enough – to my knowledge, it's most effective before you're 22 or 23. The guys like me who have had it young seem like they've bounced back."
Hawes said Dr. Lawrence Holland, his Seattle-based doctor who also performed his microfracture, took pictures of the microfracture area during his latest procedure to check on the status of the five-year-old work. With tiny fractures being made in the bone to produce blood clots that serve as cartilage, the virtual buffer, Hawes said, remains strong.
"He said it looks like normal cartilage, said it looks like it's 100 percent," Hawes said. "It blends in and does its job."
The location on the knee where the surgery took place, Hawes said, is also beneficial for the long-term prognosis.
"For me, (the microfracture) was at a point where I have to extend my knee pretty far to ... where it becomes weight bearing," he said. "If I'm running, that spot isn't (taking stress)."
The real stress is over for now, with Hawes more consumed with the new duties that come with being in the NBA. He has, if only unofficially, been designated as Brad Miller's personal rookie, a far from glamorous role that comes with running errands for Miller and toting his luggage when asked. It's the least his teammate can do to help pass the time during recovery.
"That's just the start of it," Miller said. "He doesn't realize all the tedious (stuff) he'll have to do."
Miller said he's more than willing to help Hawes along on the floor, well aware the youngster is the center of the future but not quite ready to relinquish his role.
"Before he hurt his knee we played a couple nights down at the practice facility and I got a chance to see what he could do," Miller said. "I'm excited for him to get back. I think he can help us out."
With a side benefit of helping Miller as well.
"It makes you a little bit sharper having a young guy with a similar game to mine," Miller said. "It makes it more exciting to be able to teach him and kind of show him some of the tricks. Not all of the tricks right away, but I'll stick around for another (two years), finish this (contract) out, and then I'll unload the whole book to him."
With the book on Hawes as yet unwritten, he's just eager to move past the painful prologue and pen his early chapters.
"(The skepticism) doesn't bother me at all, because I know how good I am," Hawes said. "At every level, there's going to be people who say, 'Oh, his game's not going to translate, he's not strong enough, he needs to work on his body, he's not athletic enough. ... I've been hearing that stuff over and over again. I just feel like, watch me play, and that should settle it."
About the writer: Call The Bee's Sam Amick, (916) 326-5582.
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