At the midpoint of the preseason, the list of injured NBA players _ which already includes Antonio McDyess and Chris Webber _ keeps growing.
The Philadelphia 76ers announced Wednesday that Eric Snow will need surgery on his fractured left thumb. Snow, coming off major ankle surgery, was injured Tuesday night at San Antonio, further depleting a team that has been crippled by injuries since training camp began.
Allen Iverson (right elbow) and Aaron McKie (shoulder) have not played since undergoing operations in September, Dikembe Mutombo has a sore back and George Lynch will have his foot in a protective cast for another week.
“This training camp has been a real total waste,” coach Larry Brown said.
Tracy McGrady of Orlando, Marcus Camby of New York, Theo Ratliff of Atlanta, Dan Majerle of Phoenix and Tyrone Hill of Cleveland are among the players expected to miss at least a few more games over the remainder of the preseason. Denver’s Calbert Cheaney will be out 4-to-6 weeks after injuring his knee in an exhibition game Monday night.
The regular season begins Oct. 30.
McGrady sat out Orlando’s game Wednesday night against Charlotte because of a lower back strain that knocked him out of Sunday’s game against the Hawks.
“I don’t know how long this is going to take, but I’ll sit the rest of the preseason if that’s what it takes to get it well again,” McGrady told reporters in Florida.
Similar words have been spoken by Camby, who is being counted on to play center for the undersized Knicks. Camby has plantar fasciitis of the left foot, the same type of injury that hindered former teammate Glen Rice last season. Camby has said his injury is not as serious as Rice’s, but the Knicks are concerned that Camby may have to get his timing back over the first few weeks of the regular season.
Camby, who has never played more than 63 games in a season, will wear a protective boot as he has since last weekend before being re-examined Saturday at the earliest.
Ratliff, expected to be Atlanta’s starting center, has been unable to play this preseason because of a strained hip tendon and groin pull. Hawks backup power forward Alan Henderson is day-to-day with a sore knee.
Majerle underwent surgery Wednesday to insert a pin in his broken right ring finger. He is expected to be sidelined 2-to-4 weeks. Suns guard Stephon Marbury missed an exhibition game Tuesday night with a sore hamstring.
“Shawn (Marion), Penny (Hardaway) and Stephon practiced one day together, the first day of camp, so that’s two practices,” coach Scott Skiles said.
Hill, acquired by the Cavs in an off-season trade with the 76ers, has been sidelined during the preseason by a sore back.
The injury bug has even hit Michael Jordan, who returned to practice with the Washington Wizards on Wednesday – a day after sitting out the team’s scrimmage because of a strained left foot.
Coach Doug Collins said he didn’t know if Jordan would play in the Wizards’ preseason game against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday in Grand Rapids, Mich.
“My goal is definitely I want him to play at home on Saturday,” Collins said. The Wizards only preseason home game is Saturday against the New Jersey Nets.
