OAKLAND, Calif. -- Golden State Warriors swingman Billy Owens underwent successful arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday.
Team doctors Kenneth Caldwell and Gerry Goldman removed a torn portion of medial meniscus (cartilage) from Owens' knee at the Surgery Center of Oaklandand announced that he will be sidelined for up to eight weeks.
The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Owens, who missed most of last season with a similar injury to his left knee, complained of soreness in his right knee Friday following a workout.
A team spokesman said Owens also had felt pain toward the end of last season and that an MRI taken Friday revealed the damaged cartilage.
Owens, 24, averaged 14.3 points and eight rebounds in 80 games as a rookie in 1991-92 but played in only 37 games this past season. He averaged 16.5 points and seven rebounds per game.
After leading Syracuse to its first outright Big East Conference crown and earning 1991 Big East Player of the Year, Owens elected to forego his senior season of eligibility to enter the NBA Draft. The third player selected, he was acquired from Sacramento on Nov. 1, 1991 for Mitch Richmond, Les Jepsen and Portland's second-round 1995 pick.
Last season, injuries hindered Golden State's pursuit of a third straight trip to the playoffs. In addition to Owens being reduced to limited action, All-Star Chris Mullin (thumb), Sarunas Marciulionis (achilles tendon) and Tim Hardaway (knee) also were injured. Warriors players missed a league-leading 312 games due to injury or illness in 1992-93.