Andrew Bogut to Undergo Surgery; Shut Down for Season

After missing the end of last season, Bucks center Andrew Bogut is being placed on the shelf once again, due to the same injured right elbow. This time, the injury is less severe and recovery should be much more fluid. From the MJS:

“Bucks coach Scott Skiles and Bogut confirmed the news following the shootaround, and Bogut said he would soon undergo an arthroscopic procedure to be performed by famed surgeon James Andrews. ‘I’ll just start preparing for surgery,’ Bogut said. ‘The elbow just hasn’t been good, probably the last two weeks. I’ve really been struggling with it and I almost didn’t play against Miami. ‘It’s all of a sudden gotten really bad. I honestly can’t feel my right arm out there; I’ve got no touch with it. It hurts to shoot; it hurts to pass. Right now, I’m playing probably 50%. It’s a matter of getting healthy now and getting a head start on being ready for next season.’ The Bucks were officially eliminated from playoff contention despite their 90-85 victory over the Miami Heat on Wednesday night in Miami. Bogut played 36 minutes against the Heat and had six points, 10 rebounds, four assists and four blocked shots. Skiles was asked to assess Bogut’s season and answered this way: “Look, it starts with me. Nobody’s had a good year, not a player, not the coach, nobody. ‘We’re all in it together. That’s just the nature of it.’ Bogut played in 65 games this season and averaged 12.8 points and 11.1 rebounds in 35.3 minutes. His numbers were 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds in 69 games last season. The Australian led the league in blocked shots at 2.6 per game. He dealt with migraines, a minor knee injury and a back problem at various times during the year. But the main thing that set him back was his continual struggles with his right arm. He suffered a gruesome injury on April 3 last season when he crashed to the floor at the Bradley Center after making a fast-break dunk. He underwent surgeries on his right hand and right elbow but returned in time for training camp last fall. The surgery he will undergo is expected to clean out some scar tissue and remove bone chips in the elbow. ‘Health is the No. 1 priority, particularly with a guy like Andrew,’ Skiles said. ‘Whatever that means, whatever that takes. That’s what he wants; that’s what we need.’ Bogut said he will use the off-season to try to regain full health. ‘I just want to be healthy'” he said. ‘I want to spend some time in the gym shooting and getting my feel back for the basketball. Get some shots up and hopefully it will turn the corner for me.’ Bogut indicated his rehabilitation period should not be a long one following the surgery. ‘From what I hear it’s going to maybe a week or two immobilization and then a week or two and you’re good,’ Bogut said. ‘But I will continue to do rehab but can resume full activity. It’s just a scope.'”