Wizards F Martell Webster to have season-ending surgery on hip

Washington Wizards forward Martell Webster will undergo season-ending surgery Friday on a partially torn labrum in his right hip.

Washington Wizards forward Martell Webster will undergo season-ending surgery Friday on a partially torn labrum in his right hip, reports Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post.

Webster had hoped not to need surgery this season, as he has missed time over the past four years after undergoing three back surgeries. But after sitting out out the entire preseason with the injury and failing to appear in a regular season game, he opted for the surgery.

“We tried everything else and I just wasn’t getting the results that I wanted,” Webster said, according to The Washington Post. “So I wanted to go out and get it taken care of rather than playing this season in some discomfort and then wait until the off-season to get it taken care of and then rehab the whole off-season and then try to find a rhythm come training camp. I’d rather take care of it now.”

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The recovery time after surgery is expected to take between four and 10 months, but Webster was optimistic he could return in time for the playoffs. He firmly rejected the notion this could be a career-ending procedure.

“Hell, no,” Webster, 28, said. “I hope not. Doc said 85 percent chance [of returning]. I’ll take that.”

Webster has played in 186 games for the Wizards over the last three seasons, but has started only 75. He has played in all 82 games of the season twice, most recently in the 2009–10 season with the Portland Trail Blazers. He began his career with the Blazers, who drafted him with sixth pick of the 2005 NBA draft.

Webster has averaged 8.7 points and 3.1 rebounds over his 10-season career.

- Erin Flynn