2008-09 News and Features

Jason Smith medical update

Philadelphia 76ers center Jason Smith was examined by Dr. David Altchek, the attending Orthopeadic Surgeon at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, NY, who reported that he is pleased with the progress Smith has made to date. Smith has been cleared to do basketball court work without any limitations.

“This is very encouraging news and a testament to the hard work Jason has put over the past nine months,” Sixers President and General Manager Ed Stefanski told SIXERS.COM. “But what also shouldn’t go unnoticed is the outstanding work done by our trainer Kevin Johnson, [Sixers Strength and Conditioning Consultant] Jesse Wright, [team Medical Director] Dr. Jack [McPhilemy] and Jim McNutly to put Jason in this position as we get ready for the 2009-10 season.”

Additionally, during his on-court work Smith will wear a left knee brace for the next two to three months and his progress will be monitored by the Sixers medical staff.

Smith will start with individual skill work and shooting drills, then will proceed to one-on-one games, three-on-three games and then to full five-on-five games. The Sixers have set no timetable as to when that progression will occur, but it will be based on how Smith looks during each stage and how he reports to be feeling.

Smith missed the entire 2008-09 after he suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in his left knee during normal basketball activity on August 6, 2008. Dr. Altchek performed successful surgery on Smith’s left knee to repair the ACL on September 17, 2008.

A product of Colorado State University, Smith appeared in 76 games during his rookie season and averaged 4.5 points, 3.5 rebounds and 0.7 blocks in 14.5 minutes per game. In the playoffs, Smith appeared in all six games and posted averages of 3.3 points and 2.5 rebounds in 13.7 minutes per game. In the recently completed Las Vegas Summer League, Smith appeared in five games and averaged 18.6 points, 8.0 rebounds and 1.0 blocks in 30.6 minutes per game.