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Delayed Answer Iverson out 4-6 weeks following surgery; McKie out 6-8
Updated: Tuesday September 25, 2001 5:58 PM
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Allen Iverson and Aaron McKie both had surgery Tuesday and will not be able to play for the Philadelphia 76ers for at least a month. Iverson, the NBA's MVP who led the 76ers to the Finals last season, is expected to miss 4-to-6 weeks after an arthroscopic operation on his right elbow. He probably will be ready for the season opener Oct. 30. McKie, the league's top sixth man, had a similar procedure on his right shoulder and will be out 6-to-8 weeks. He could start the season on the injured list. Both players will begin rehab Wednesday. General manager Billy King said they will accompany the team to State College for training camp, starting Oct. 2. Philadelphia opens its exhibition season Oct. 9. "We hoped rest would resolve it, but it did not," King said. "Surgery was a last resort." Team physician Jack McPhilemy said surgery was recommended to Iverson after the end of the 1999-00 season and the day after last season ended on June 15. It also was suggested to McKie earlier in the summer. "Suggesting it and getting it done sometimes are two different things," McPhilemy said. "When the subject was brought up, both players seemed amenable to it, but it never got done." Both players were scheduled to visit Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala., on Sept. 11, the day of the terrorist attacks. Andrews performed both operations Tuesday. "We were worried in both cases that there could be more injury than we found," Andrews said. "We were somewhat relieved." Andrews removed bone spurs from Iverson's elbow that limited his motion and caused pain. He feared Iverson might have an arthritic condition. McKie has a small shoulder tear, and there was concern he might have a complete tear of his rotator cuff. Iverson has missed 34 games, including playoffs, because of injury or suspension. The Sixers are 15-19 in those games. McKie missed six games last season because of injury. Iverson led the league in scoring for the second time in three years with an average of 31.1 points. He was first in steals (2.51) and tied for first in minutes (42.0). McKie averaged career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (4.1), assists (five), steals (1.39) and minutes (31.5). He started 33 of the 76 games in which he played during the regular season mainly because of injuries to point guard Eric Snow. McKie signed a six-year contract worth a guaranteed $35.5 million in July. Iverson married longtime girlfriend Tawanna Turner in August. King said McKie's free agency and Iverson's wedding were factors in the delay.
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