Amar'e Stoudemire to miss 6 weeks

**pwaldo** · 03-09-2013, 08:51 PM

http://espn.go.com/new-york/nba/stor...knee-procedure

Amar'e Stoudemire is scheduled to have a right knee debridement this coming week and is expected to miss approximately six weeks, the New York Knicks announced Saturday.

"It's a major loss to what we're trying to do," coach Mike Woodson said.

A debridement is a form of arthroscopic surgery that removes debris.

Stoudemire did not participate in Saturday's shootaround because of soreness in both of his knees. An MRI later Saturday revealed that surgery was required.

Per the six-week timetable, Stoudemire is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season. If he is off the floor for the full six weeks, the earliest Stoudemire would return is April 20, three days after the final game of the regular season.

Stoudemire has a history of knee ailments. He missed the first two months of the season while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. The procedure also was described as a debridement. The timetable for Stoudemire to return from the surgery earlier this season was six to eight weeks, and he needed the full eight to get back.