Shaq reportly to schedule toe surgery
ESPN.com reports: Los Angeles Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal, hampered by an arthritic big toe through much of last season, could reportedly undergo surgery in the next two weeks and might miss several games in the upcoming season.
Citing sources close to O'Neal, the Los Angeles Times said Dr. Robert Mohr, chief of podiatric surgery at the UCLA Medical Center, is expected to perform the procedure, called a cheilectomy.
Healing typically requires three months, the newspaper said, adding that O'Neal has been told he should be able to walk the day of the procedure, which takes between 20 and 30 minutes, and could be running in less than six weeks and playing by early to mid-November.
The three-time defending NBA champion Lakers open training camp Oct. 1 at their El Segundo headquarters and begin the regular season Oct. 29 at Staples Center against the San Antonio Spurs.