A trio of NBA players with similar shoulder injuries offer insight into OKC Thunder star Paul George’s recovery time and post-surgery expectations.
It wasn’t a surprise to learn Paul George would undergo offseason surgery to fix the shoulder ailments he navigated the latter part of the season with. George hinted surgery might be on the horizon at the OKC Thunder exit interviews.
While fans and analysts alike speculated at what the injury specifically was, former players like Tracy McGrady diagnosed the ailment as a torn labrum.
Obviously, no surgery is ideal but it’s good George addressed this immediately given the recovery period. As per Very Well Health, the typical rehabilitation period for a torn rotator cuff is four to six months. Those time frames were general estimates as per the same site.
Factoring in this timeframe and the reality the strengthening segment of the rehabilitation is the most critical it’s logical to assume the Thunder will be extremely patient and cautious in their approach. If George aligns to the “typical timeframe” it would translate into a return date sometime in November. However, that might be an optimistic view since George is an athlete and the key to recovery is regaining range of motion and strength.
A trio of NBA players who had comparable surgeries:
Kobe Bryant had his rotator cuff surgery in late January of 2015 and was back in time for the preseason. Like Bryant, Tracy McGrady rehabilitated during the summer but his exact procedure was noted as arthroscopic rather than “rotator cuff surgery”. McGrady’s injury may be closer to the other shoulder procedure George will have since he specified a four month recovery (as per the video above).
One article which cited Bryant’s surgery noted the Lakers star could be out as much as nine months but his preseason interaction indicates he was back within eight months. Nailing down the exact timeline is impossible for Bryant given his rehabilitation occurred during the offseason.
The closest example I could find was Patty Mills who had rotator cuff surgery in early July 2014 and returned to action December 28, 2014. This would mean his recovery took approximately five months.
Further research led to articles which didn’t offer the most positive feedback such as only 50 percent of athletes get their full range of motion back. One suggested sometimes pain may be tied more to inflammation in the joint rather than one of the four tendons within the rotator cuff. Suffice to say there are differing opinions on recovery time and effectiveness post recovery.
Ball N Roll offered up an informative article detailing how the injury typically occurs, treatment and what to expect after recovery.
"After a rotator cuff has been torn, it may be at higher risk of recurring. (This is especially true in the first three to six months following a surgery). That said, depending on the seriousness of a tear many athletes can continue with their respective sports following successful treatment. As in Kobe’s case, veteran athletes with a long history of competition face other factors that may prevent them from returning to optimal performance, such as aging and the wear and tear of a career in sports."
Post surgery expectations:
Logic dictates the Thunder and George will take every precaution to make sure his strength is fully back and that everything possible has been done to ensure his optimal performance upon his return.
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In terms of post-surgery production, when Mills returned he didn’t miss a game the rest of the season. He averaged 6.9 points, 1.5 rebounds, and 1.7 assists playing 15.7 minutes in 51 games. Mills shot 34.1 percent from deep in those appearances. His postseason stats were even better as he averaged 16 minutes in seven games producing 10.1 points, 2.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists and shot 57.1 percent from deep.
McGrady had a shortened subpar season prior to his surgery and also dealt with a knee injury. In the 2008-09 season, he averaged 15.6 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 5.0 assists and shot 37.6 percent from deep. Upon his return, he played in just 30 games (split between Houston and New York) plus two additional seasons but never returned to his prior prowess.
Bryant had decent production, but remember this was the Farewell Tour season of 2015-16. LA finished with a 17-65 record, so the ball was often in Bryant’s hands as teams paid homage to the Mamba.
Ultimately, it’s impossible to use McGrady or Bryant as comparisons since George is just entering his prime whereas they were both in their swan song years. Mills offers a reason for optimism given his minutes, scoring, perimeter shooting and different elements of his game improved in each of the four seasons since the surgery.
Thunderous Intentions sends our best wishes to Paul George in his recovery and return to full health.