University of North Carolina Athletics
Carter to Miss Four Weeks
November 8, 2002 | Men's Basketball
Nov 8, 2002
TORONTO (AP) - Toronto Raptors star Vince Carter will miss four weeks after re-injuring his left knee.
Carter, hurt in a game against Houston last Saturday, does not need surgery but must sit out to let his strained quadriceps tendon heal. He traveled to irmingham, Ala., on Thursday to meet with renowned orthopedist James Andrews, who made the recommendation.
An MRI exam last Sunday showed no structural damage to Carter's knee, which has bothered him at times for the last two seasons. Team doctors had listed him as day-to-day.
"I'm not going to rush because I refuse to let this happen again," Carter said.
The injury forced Carter to miss five games two years ago and 22 games at the end of last season. He played his final game March 19, then had surgery the following week.
Carter said he's not concerned about his career.
"My career is going to be OK. I believe that," Carter said. "It's just a little bump in the road. I have to figure out how I'm going to get over it without hurting myself."
The three-time All-Star played the preseason and Toronto's first two games saying he felt no pain. He was the team's leading scorer in the first two games, averaging 18 points and three rebounds in 36 minutes.
Carter vowed to return this season better than ever.
"He's upset because he worked real hard and he had a great camp," Toronto coach Lenny Wilkens said. "Hopefully, he'll be fine."
The Raptors are also missing Antonio Davis (day-to-day with a strained rib) Lamond Murray (expected to miss four months with a ligament tear in his right foot) Nate Huffman (recovering from arthroscopic surgery) Eric Montross (broken bone in his left foot) and Jelani McCoy, who will miss at least two games with a sore back.
