The road to recovery

¹²³ · Aug 17, 2009

Redd trying to bounce back from serious knee injury

It's hard to believe nearly a decade has passed since a young player out of Ohio State was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks in the second round of the 2000 draft.

Now Michael Redd is approaching his 30th birthday this month, and he's facing a turning point in his career.

He is coming back from major surgery on his left knee after an injury that prematurely ended his season in January and helped push the Bucks out of the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

"It's amazing; it's been a fast journey," Redd said of beginning his 10th season with the Bucks this fall. "I'm looking forward to a new chapter after the injury. I'm ready to explode and have some fun."

But first there is more work to be done, more taxing hours of rehabilitation and preparation. Redd has been spending 2 to 2½ hours each day working out at Ohio State University, his alma mater in his hometown of Columbus.

Redd has not played basketball yet or been on the court, and he admitted he's getting anxious for that moment.

"I'm just trying to get the leg stronger," he said. "I feel good. I really haven't had any breaks.

"I'm doing a lot of scar-tissue work, machine work and cardio. It's getting the scar tissue to heal. I'm making progress. The whole process is good because it's a chance to build your body up again."

Redd had a heavy year of basketball in 2008, playing more than 2,700 minutes for the Bucks during the 2007-'08 season and heading directly into training with the U.S. Olympic team.

Just one year ago, Redd was in Beijing with the U.S. "Redeem Team" as it made its unbeaten run to an Olympic gold medal.

Redd said he has not talked to anybody about a future role with the U.S. team, although he indicated U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski has contacted him several times to wish him well in returning from his injury.

"It's really not been on my mind, especially with the injury," Redd said. "Right now my focus is on getting healthy."

It has been speculated that Oklahoma City guard Kevin Durant, who played well in national team auditions this summer in Las Vegas, could fill Redd's role as a designated shooter on the U.S. team that will compete in the 2010 World Championships in Turkey. Krzyzewski has agreed to return for the four-year cycle ending with the 2012 London Olympics.

"Whatever happens, you want the success to continue," Redd said. "If I'm never going to be on it (the national team) again, I had a glorious time and we won. We had great camaraderie and chemistry, and everybody played a role and won that gold medal.

"It was the best experience of my basketball career, by far."

Redd said he knew there would be personnel changes for the Bucks this summer. He has followed the moves made by general manager John Hammond and the Bucks' front-office staff, from the drafting of young point guard Brandon Jennings to the losses of Richard Jefferson (trade) and Charlie Villanueva (free agency), to the free-agent acquisition of forward Hakim Warrick and the trades netting veteran Kurt Thomas and young forward Amir Johnson.

"I don't have a clue. I don't know how we're going to be," Redd said of the Bucks' immediate future. "I'm like the old man on the team now, and I'm 29 years old (until Aug. 24).

"There are a lot of young fellas, and it's almost like a new team again. I don't know yet. I'll just go to work when work starts and go from there."

Redd said he felt empathy for the plight of restricted free agent Ramon Sessions, who is still without a team and waiting for a contract offer.

Redd was a restricted free agent in 2002, when the Bucks matched an offer sheet by the Dallas Mavericks. Then in the summer of 2005, Redd signed a maximum six-year, $91 million contract, the richest deal in Bucks history. That contract has two years remaining, at $17 million for next season and with an $18.3 million player option for 2010-'11.

"I've had an incredible first half of my career," he said. "It was very hard last year not being able to compete. Rehab is not fun. It will pass, though.

"My family and friends have been very supportive, and it's been great to be in this environment."

Redd admittedly was discouraged by the freak nature of his injury, which he suffered when he landed awkwardly on teammate Luke Ridnour's foot in a Jan. 24 home game against Sacramento. Redd suffered both a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn medial collateral ligament in his left knee.

Bucks trainer Marc Boff has worked with Redd in Columbus to assist in the rehabilitation process.

"I have complete confidence he's going to come back 100%, as does Michael," Hammond said.

Redd said he is pointing to a successful return and is not concerned about any long-term effects.

"The doctors have told me that absolutely I will be able to come back stronger than I was before, if I rehab the proper way," Redd said.
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