Dalembert Has Arthroscopic Procedure

Philadelphia, Pa. – June 19, 2003 – Philadelphia 76ers center Samuel Dalembert underwent arthroscopic left knee surgery on Thurs., June 19, 2003, at the Alabama Sports Medicine Center in Birmingham, Ala. The 20-minute long procedure was performed by Dr. James Andrews and assisted by Sixers team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy. Dalembert will resume rehabilitation upon return to Philadelphia and is scheduled to return to basketball activity in four-to-six weeks.

“The surgery went well and verified that the healing process is complete,” McPhilemy said. “We expect Samuel to make a full recovery.”

Dalembert, who underwent an arthroscopic left knee procedure on Oct. 25, 2002, to repair two chondral defects, spent the entire 2002-03 season on the injured list. The 6-foot-11, 250-pounder has missed 110 NBA games due to injury in his first two seasons in the league.

Prior to the first surgical procedure in 2002, Dalembert averaged 8.0 points and 4.5 rebounds in 20.0 minutes in four preseason games. Drafted by the Sixers with the 26th overall pick in the 2001 NBA Draft as an early-entry candidate out of Seton Hall University, Dalembert played in 34 games and averaged 2.0 rebounds in 5.2 minutes per game during his rookie campaign.