Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (R) lofts a shot over New Jersey Nets center Brook Lopez in the first quarter of their NBA basketball game in Newark, New Jersey March 14, 2011.
Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green will undergo surgery for an aortic aneurysm next month and miss the 2011-12 season, the National Basketball Association (NBA) team said today.
The aneurysm was detected during a team physical last week, and after additional testing doctors recommended surgery, the Celtics said.
The surgery, at the Cleveland Clinic on January 9, should completely repair Green’s condition and he can expect to resume his NBA career next season, the team said in a statement.
«While we are saddened that Jeff will not be able to play this season, the most important thing is his health,» Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said.
Green, 25, was a first-round draft pick for the Celtics in 2007. He was traded to Seattle the same day and played three-plus seasons for Seattle/Oklahoma City before rejoining the Celtics in February as part of a trade.
He played in 75 regular-season games for Oklahoma City and Boston last season, averaging 13.3 points and 4.8 rebounds.
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