The Suns received devastating news this morning regarding their All-Star big man. Amar? Stoudemire?s arthroscopic surgery evolved into a microfracture procedure on his left knee this morning, according to his manager.

His cartilage damage is said to be more severe than anticipated by Team physician and orthopedic surgeon Thomas Carter.  Amare is expected be out for four months because of the surgery said his manager, Rodney Rice.

?It was better to do the microfracture now instead of chancing that the lesion would grow, which might affect Amar? down the road," said Rice.

Suns fans remember how microfracture surgery greatly changed the game of Penny Hardaway but Rice said Stoudemire should not be as adversely affected because he is having the operation at a younger age and at a time when the lesion is smaller. During a microfracture, holes are drilled into the bone. The cells then come up with the blood through the holes and form into cartilage.

?He?s got a lot of things in his favor to come back in a strong way,? Rice said.