Lee Shappell of the Arizona Republic reports: Phoenix Suns guard Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway will have surgery this morning to repair torn radial collateral ligament at the base of his right thumb.

Hardaway is expected to be out 6-8 weeks.

Hardaway was extremely upset when he learned that he needed surgery.

"I started crying," said Hardaway, the Suns shooting guard who suffered the injury during a practice seven weeks ago.

Coach Frank Johnson said it has gotten worse since Hardaway suffered the injury in practice on Nov. 21 when he banged his hand on Casey Jacobsen's elbow going for the ball.

"I've been through so much agony and pain with my knees, and trying to come back from that with all the negative that comes along with that," Hardaway said. "To hear about my thumb was terrible because with my knees, I've won that battle so far. This was something I wasn't going to accept. It's still hard to accept now."

Suns physician Dr. Thomas Carter said Hardaway risked permanent damage if he did not have the thumb repaired now.