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This story is taken from Kings at sacbee.com.
[Webber nearing return to team]
The Kings' power forward is optimistic he'll be back by the start of
January.
By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer -
(Published December 12, 2003)
Chris Webber might have thought people were being rude to him, but he
knows better.
"It's not even, 'Hi!' " the Kings' power forward said Thursday at the
team's practice facility. "It's, 'When are you coming back?' "
Well, for the first time since undergoing left knee surgery June 10,
Webber felt comfortable responding. And the answer? Soon.
The first step for Webber comes Monday, when he will travel to Alabama
and meet again with orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews.
Webber will be examined and work out for the doctor and his staff before
joining the team Dec. 19 for a game at Atlanta.
Said Webber: "I'm going to see the doctors this upcoming week. I believe
we'll have some good news, and hopefully, we'll come back playing."
Webber, whose high for games played is 76 during his rookie season with
Golden State, said the doctors and trainers will consider his input.
"But I'm really going to listen to the doctors and to our trainer and
trust them," he said. "You know, the team is playing great now, so
hopefully I'll just come back and be healthy and keep us on the same
page.
"If it were up to me, the minute I practiced, you give me three days,
and I'm ready to play. But is that realistic? I don't know.
"I think hopefully, if I'm allowed to practice, I'll come back and
practice, and we'll just take it from there."
The All-Star admits he had been moody and depressed and was fighting
off self-pity.
Then, in his inimitable way, Webber said he talked about wanting to feel
the pain, so he appreciates the good times that much more when they come.
One day, Webber was planning to host his mother for Thanksgiving, the next,
he decided he wanted to be by himself and get through the negative vibes he
was experiencing.
Thursday, Webber was smiling, laughing, joking, upbeat and clearly seeing
the end of the ordeal.
"I can't believe it, " Webber said about being this close to playing,
"because this is the longest I've not touched a ball. I didn't get to
touch a ball this summer. This is the longest I've not played basketball
in my life. So it's hard.
"It's taken some getting used to. It's taking a lot of getting used to.
You have to fight being depressed. You've got to fight just wanting to
stay at home ... and not living. It's tough, but it's coming, so I feel
good that it's the closest it's ever been, realistically."
New York Knicks guard Allan Houston had the same procedure to promote
cartilage healing during the offseason. Houston returned at the start of
the season but has missed games with soreness.
Webber said he has seen Houston's plight.
"（Free-agent guard Brandin） Knight, who was on our team during the
preseason," Webber said, "had the same (procedure) done, and he told me
it took him about seven months.
"It's something that I think about, but everybody's body is different.
Hopefully, when I come back and play, I won't have to sit out any games,
because you don't want to throw the team off with inconsistency.
"Really, I just want to be back on the court. So, knowing me, I'll push
it, but I'll definitely have to listen to the doctors and my body."
Webber compared his scenario to feeling like a little kid waiting for
Christmas. It's likely the Kings, who will return from Atlanta early Dec.
20, will hold their next practice Dec. 22.
The Kings have home games against Portland on Dec. 21, Memphis on Dec. 23
and Dallas on Christmas Day before a Dec. 26 contest in Oakland against
Golden State. The Kings then host Utah on Dec. 28 before visiting the Los
Angeles Clippers on Jan. 3.
Webber said his return to action could come anywhere inside that window.
And he hopes to come back as a new-and-improved model.
One of the drills Webber has done during rehabilitation involved jumping
over a series of 12-or 18-inch hurdles while doing half-or full-spins.
"Those things, I think, will help with my play overall in basketball this
year," he said. "I think I'll be more powerful in the paint... maybe not
at the beginning, but definitely as my body gets used to playing."
Note -- Tonight, the Kings will regain the services of guard Bobby Jackson,
who missed Tuesday's victory over the Clippers with bronchitis. Jackson
practiced Thursday.
Guard Anthony Peeler had fluid drained from his right knee Thursday and
didn't travel with the team to Salt Lake City. However, Peeler did report
immediate relief from the swelling that showed up after the Clippers game.
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