Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd eyeing February return
In an interview with NBA Fanhouse, Milwaukee Bucks guard Michael Redd said he is aiming for a return date this season. "The goal for me is February,'' said Redd, who is looking to come
back from two knee injuries that have limited his time on the court for the past two seasons.
Redd, who was an All-Star during the 2003-04 season, has been training in Columbus, Ohio, his hometown. The 31-year old, who has not been on the court since January 10 this year, was back
in Milwaukee for an annual Thanksgiving event that he holds for less fortunate families. Redd said that he was cleared last November 8 for basketball activities.
In repair
"I feel great,'' Redd said. "I'm just now getting acclimated to playing basketball again. I'm doing some basketball stuff on the court now, shooting and dribbling, a little light running.
Just getting acclimated to playing basketball again.''
Redd, who was the 43rd overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft, went down on January 24 last year after sustaining ligament tears in his left knee. He missed the rest of the season due to the
injury, which damaged his anterior and medial collateral ligaments. In a game against the Los Angeles Lakers last January, he aggravated the injury and has since undergone another surgery.
Over the Bucks' last 128 games, Redd has made an appearance just 18 times. He said that being hurt got him down.
"The first couple of days after the injury the second time, it was a little hard,'' Redd said. "You're thinking, 'This is not how it's supposed to go.' The first couple of days were tough.
But I see light at the end of the tunnel (now).''
Redd, who will make $18.3 million in the last year of his contract, will need to fight for a spot the next time he wears a Bucks uniform. He has been the subject of trade rumours and will
have to compete for time on the floor against the likes of John Salmons and Corey Maggette.
"It's a new team. I never worry about (trade rumours). I never worry about basketball, about what the future holds. It's out of my control. All I can do is continue to get healthy, get
better, get strong and come back and perform. As far as I know, I'm back (with the Bucks) in February.''
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