Laker Brian Cook Undergoes Thumb Surgery Options

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Laker Brian Cook Undergoes Thumb Surgery
By Mike Bresnahan, Times Staff Writer
4:43 PM PDT, July 18, 2006


Brian Cook became the second Laker to undergo surgery in recent days after an urgent procedure Monday night to repair an open dislocation of the interphalangeal joint of his right thumb.

Cook was involved in a freak accident Monday while playing a pickup basketball game at the trendy Sports Club LA in West Los Angeles. The thumb on his right hand--his shooting hand--was torn open after he hit the backboard while blocking a shot.

"I blocked the shot and the ball went out to half court," Cook said Tuesday. "My thumb pretty much did too."

Cook had a pin inserted into the thumb and will wear a splint for about three weeks. He will begin playing in about eight weeks and is expected to fully recover by the time training camp starts in early October.

The surgery was performed at Centinela Freeman Regional Medical Center by Dr. Steven Shinn, a hand specialist with the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Group.

Cook, 25, averaged career highs of 7.9 points and 3.4 rebounds last season, his third in the NBA. The forward is under contract to the Lakers for one more season at $1.8 million, after which he would become a restricted free agent.

Cook, who also averaged a career-best 19 minutes per game last season, will have to work for more playing time next season following the Lakers' recent acquisition of free agent Vladimir Radmanovic, a lanky forward who also scores mainly from the perimeter.

"My spirits are high," Cook said. "They said I won't have any problems getting back. I'll be able to work on other stuff in my game. I can still work on my legs, get quicker, and I can work on my left hand. This is going to make me ambidextrous."

Last Saturday Lakers guard Kobe Bryant underwent arthroscopic surgery on his right knee to clean out scar tissue and loose cartilage. Bryant is expected to be out eight to 12 weeks and could miss the start of training camp.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/basketball/n...la-story-footer