Fox has foot surgery to repair torn tendon

EL SEGUNDO, Calif. -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Rick Fox underwent surgery Monday to repair a torn tendon in his left foot.

Fox was sidelined for the remainder of the playoffs when he was injured April 27 in the first quarter of the Lakers' 102-97 victory over Minnesota in Game 4 of the teams' first-round playoff series.

The surgery was performed in New York by Jonathan Deland, chief of foot and ankle services at the Hospital for Special Surgery, and William Hamilton.

"The surgery to repair the tendon of his left ankle went very well. Our prognosis is good, and he is expected to make a full recovery," the doctors said in a statement.

Spokesperson Staci Wolfe said Fox was doing very well.

"Whenever you go into a surgery, you can anticipate a best- or a worst-case scenario," Wolfe said from her Los Angeles office. "He clearly came out with the best-case scenario. It was a very positive outcome."

Wolfe said Fox will spend a few days in New York before returning to Los Angeles.

"He's looking forward to coming back and supporting his team," she said.

Wolfe said she couldn't say how long Fox will be sidelined.

"He'll definitely be returning next season, but it's too early to tell exactly when," she said.

Wolfe said the doctors also did a realignment of Fox's left foot.

Fox, 33, has played in the NBA for 12 years -- six with the Boston Celtics and six with the Lakers. He averaged 9.0 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.3 assists in 76 games this season.

Devean George has replaced Fox in the starting lineup.