The Orlando Magic have confirmed that their All-Star center Dwight Howard will miss the remainder of the 2011-2012 NBA season including the playoffs.
Howard will undergo surgery on a herniated disc in his back today in Los Angeles.
The procedure will also keep the three time defensive player of the year out of the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London.
To say this has been a strange season for Dwight and the Magic would be a major understatement.
Howard and the Magic organization have been in a public relations battle all season long. Not sure if he would re-sign, General Manager Otis Smith was close to dealing his star center if an extension wasn’t agreed upon.
Dwight decided to sign through next season, basically a small bandage on a large wound.
Magic coach Stan Van Gundy then went public saying Howard wanted him out as coach, a report that Dwight refuted.
Orlando the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference standings will have to make a run without Superman.
Howard who is leading the league in rebounds per game (14.5) and averaging 20.6 points per game has only missed a total of eight games in his seven year career.
“Typically a disc herniation causes low back pain that radiates down or shoots down into the legs,” said Dr. Chetan Patel, of Florida Hospital.
The six time NBA All-Star will be ready for training camp next season.
