HOOPSWORLD | Basketball News & NBA Rumors

by Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY Sports

The New York Knicks knew forward Amar’e Stoudemire would be sidelined to start the season because of a knee injury, but his projected absence has doubled to six to eight weeks.

Stoudemire will have a debridement, a procedure to remove dead or damaged tissue or bone in an attempt to heal the ailing area.

On Oct. 21, the Knicks announced Stoudemire had a ruptured cyst in his left knee and would miss two to three weeks, but they also encouraged their power forward to get a second opinion.

Stoudemire saw Phoenix Suns team doctor Tom Carter, who performed microfracture surgery on Stoudemire’s left knee in October, 2005. Carter at first recommended that Stoudemire take more than 2-3 weeks to the bothersome left knee heal, but then it was determined it was best to clean out the knee.

The procedure is not a guarantee that Stoudemire’s knee will improve. A 2002 study in the New England Journal of Medicine and a study by The Cochrane Collaboration concluded that debridement may provide no improvement.

Stoudemire played in just one preseason game and was anxious to get back on the court and show off the moves he learned while practicing with Hall of Fame center Hakeem Olajuwon in the offseason.

The injury also delays the Knicks’ ability to show off their lineup with Stoudemire, forward Carmelo Anthony and guard Raymond Felton on the floor and puts a damper on the start of their season.

Without Stoudemire, the Knicks will use rookie Chris Copeland, veteran Kurt Thomas, 40, and possibly veterans Marcus Camby, 38, and Rasheed Wallace, 38.

… [For more on Amar'e Stoudemire of Knicks needs knee surgery, click here.]