Jonathan Bender has two choices, neither of which is appealing.
 
The injured Indiana Pacers forward can retire, or try to play again on knees that appear beyond repair and risk permanent damage.

Although he said he's not ready to announce his retirement, he also has no immediate plans to return. He has not played since the Pacers' home opener Nov. 5, and has not practiced with the team since mid-November.

"There's a lot of wear and tear," Bender said in a telephone interview from New Orleans, where he owns a home. "There's a big difference between the MRIs from last season and this season. I have no cartilage in my left knee, and the right knee is headed in that direction. It's like they've been shaved down."

Bender said he is scheduled for arthroscopic surgery on his right knee in March. He probably will not announce a decision on his future before then.

"I either have to take a chance and keep going and end up with no range of motion in my legs, or stop," he said. "I don't want to put myself in position where I end up in a wheelchair."

Bender, who turns 25 on Jan. 30, entered the NBA as the fifth overall draft pick in 1999. He has shown flashes of brilliance in his six-plus seasons with the Pacers, but played just 76 games over the past three-plus seasons because of knee-related injuries.