DALLAS -- Dallas Mavericks center James Donaldson underwent a two-hour operation Monday to repair his injured right knee and will be lost for the season, the Mavericks said.
Donaldson, 31, was operated on by team physician Dr. J. Pat Evans at Baylor University Medical Center to repair the ruptured patellar tendon in his knee, injured Friday in a 96-86 loss to Houston.
'The surgery went as expected,' Evans said. 'James will begin his rehab program immediately. He will wear a brace for a minimum of two months and then he'll begin more extensive rehab.'
The severity of the injury has led to speculation that Donaldson may be unable to return to the Mavericks. The club said his availability for the 1989-90 seaosn 'will be determined as his rehabilitation progresses.'
Donaldson, who is 7 feet 2 and weighs 278 pounds, was hurt when he rebounded a missed shot, went back up with a follow shot, was stripped of the ball and crumpled as he hit the floor.
The veteran center was averaging 9.1 points and 10.8 rebounds per game and had been in double figures for points and rebounds in each of the last 10 games. He was averaging 15.8 points and 15.7 rebounds over that stretch.