Washington Wizards forward Jared Dudley underwent surgery on Tuesday to repair a herniated disc in his lower back that is expected to sideline him for three to four months.
The team said in a statement that Dudley will begin rehab immediately after the surgery performed by Dr. Drew Dossett in Dallas. Dudley sat out four games last season with a sore back and played through pain caused by the injury.
“During our discussions with Jared and his agent, Mark Bartelstein, we were made aware that he played with pain for a significant part of last season due to this injury,” Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld said. “After jointly consulting with our team doctors and several specialists, we collectively determined that this proactive approach was the best course of action to have him ready for the upcoming season and to prevent the risk of further injury.”
The 30-year-old Dudley joined the Wizards after a July 9 trade with the Milwaukee Bucks in exchange for a protected future second-round draft pick. In 72 games for the Bucks last season, he averaged 7.2 points and 3.1 rebounds.
In eight NBA seasons, Dudley has averaged 8.5 points and 3.4 rebounds per game with Charlotte, Phoenix, the Los Angeles Clippers and the Bucks.
“Although I’m disappointed that I won’t be on the floor with my new teammates for the start of training camp, I’m confident that having this surgery now will allow me to perform at my best and contribute throughout the season,” Dudley said. “I appreciate the patience and support of the organization and I can assure my teammates and the fans that I will work extremely hard to be on the floor as soon as possible.”