Report: Wizards' Webster gets 2nd opinion on arthritic hip
Martell Webster may be the world's oldest 28-year-old.
Two months after saying he felt "amazing" after dropping 20 pounds in the offseason, Webster remains unable to play and searching for answers. The Washington Wizards forward has been sidelined since the beginning of October thanks to a strained right hip, one he says is arthritic.
The condition of the hip has grown dire enough that he recently went to Nebraska, the location of his offseason physical therapy, for a second opinion, according to Jorge Castillo of The Washington Post.
The hip has prevented him from appearing in any preseason games, a startling divergence from the optimism he espoused in August and September but one that's not at all unfamiliar to a player who seemingly can't catch a break on the health front. Webster missed the first half of last season recovering from surgery to repair a herniated disc, his third back surgery in a four-year span.
"I couldn't believe this (back injury) happened again," Webster said at media day. "That gets tiring, man. It weighs on you."
The recurrent injury had him suggesting at this time last year he'd probably retire at 30, when his current contract is up. Webster's $5.8-million contract for next season is guaranteed for $2.5 million and becomes fully guaranteed if he plays 70 games this season, a benchmark that now seems unlikely.
One of the last players to enter the league directly from high school, he had the worst season of his career last year, averaging 3.3 points in 11 minutes while shooting 26.4 percent from the floor. In the seven seasons prior to that, the former No. 6 overall pick averaged 9.8 points and 3.4 rebounds while knocking down 39.2 percent of his outside looks.
Webster lost his rotation spot with the Wizards thanks to the back injury and ineffectiveness, but he would have had the opportunity to carve out some playing time as several new wings jockeyed for reserve minutes in training camp. Instead, he'll probably be a deep reserve once healthy, left to fight his way back into a consistent role for the first time since 2013-14.