DENVER (Ticker) -- Denver Nuggets veteran forward Bryon Russell had microfracture surgery Friday on his right knee, which could jeopardize his career.

Russell, who suffered a medial meniscus tear in the knee during training camp, had the successful arthroscopic procedure performed by Nuggets team physician Dr. Steve Traina.

Russell is expected to be sidelined four to five months, possibly returning in April, the last month of the season. This is the first serious injury of his career.

Entering his 13th season and second with the Nuggets, Russell turns 35 on New Year's Eve. After spending nine years with the Utah Jazz, he has bounced around the last three seasons, playing for Washington, the Los Angeles Lakers and Denver.

In 840 career games, Russell has averaged 7.9 points and 2.5 rebounds while shooting nearly 37 percent from 3-point range. He was the starting small forward on the Utah squads that reached the NBA Finals in 1997 and 1998 and a deep reserve on the Lakers team that made it to the 2004 Finals.

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