| | EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Jayson Williams, the All-Star
center who has been sidelined since breaking his right leg and
tearing up his knee on April 1, hopes to start practicing after the
New Year and return to the New Jersey Nets' lineup in mid-January.
Williams has had two surgeries since he was injured in a
collision with teammate Stephon Marbury in a game against Atlanta
on April 1. He had reconstructive surgery the following day and
arthroscopic surgery in September.
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| Williams |
He has been undergoing rehabilitation for months and has just
about had enough.
"I'll give it a shot," Williams said Saturday before the Nets
played Houston. "If it rips or falls apart, or the plate falls out
or the screws unscrew, at least I'll know. I'll get a big butt like
Charlie (Charles Barkley), and we'll go play golf."
One of the more athletic centers in the league, Williams doesn't
think his knee will be anywhere near what it used to be.
"I got a bad injury," Williams said. "But I am going to come
back because I'm tired of every morning doing the same workouts.
That gets tedious, too. So I just want to come back, not too
hard."
Williams has been working out with a trainer for 4-5 hours a
day, and he said practice can't be any tougher.
It's been particularly difficult with New Jersey off to a 4-16
start, including a 71-69 loss to Chicago (2-16) on Friday night.
"It was hard, I got up today and swam this morning, but it was
hard without enthusiasm," Williams said.
Williams played seven games of racquetball on Saturday, which
tested his ability to move side to side.
"I feel good. I think I'll be back to start practicing after
the New Year," Williams said. "I'm looking to come back somewhere
in mid-January." | |
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