Washington Wizards center Dwight Howard likely will need a surgical procedure to provide relief from a gluteal injury that has frequently sidelined him this season, league sources told ESPN.
Howard received a recommendation from a nerve specialist in Los Angeles on Thursday and may seek further consultation before making a final decision on a surgery that would cause him to miss a significant portion of the regular season.
Howard aggravated a piriformis muscle injury in a Nov. 18 game against Portland, and has missed 11 of the Wizards’ 20 games this season — including training camp.
Howard, an eight-time All-Star and five-time All-NBA player, has gone from a star to a journeyman in recent years. He has changed teams in four consecutive years, bouncing from Houston to Atlanta, Charlotte to Brooklyn, and finally, Washington.
Howard, 32, signed a two-year, $11 million free agent deal with the Wizards this summer. Thomas Bryant has replaced him in the Wizards lineup.
Source : ESPN