CLEVELAND -- Cleveland Cavaliers center Brad Daugherty, a five-time All-Star center, said yesterday that he will miss the entire season after having two herniated disks removed from his lower back Monday at University Hospitals.
"I don't have to have this operation," Daugherty, 29, the team's all-time leading scorer, said. "I can rehab my back for another five months or five years, and it might get better. But that way, I don't know if I'll ever play again. I want to give myself a chance to play, so I am going ahead with this and pointing toward next season."
Dr. Henry Bohlman said: "In 85 percent of the cases, patients with herniated disks get better with rehabilitation. Well, Brad tried that to the nth degree. Most people would not have lasted as long as he did under that intense rehabilitation."