Chris Paul has successful thumb surgery

Clippers all-star point guard Chris Paul had surgery on Tuesday to a repair a torn ligament in his right thumb and should be ready for the start of training camp, the team announced.

The Clippers said Paul is expected to be out for eight weeks, and then should be able to start all basketball activities, including full contact.

Paul had the procedure done by Dr. Steven Shin, a hand specialist at Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic.

Paul played with the injury throughout the just-completed Olympics in London, keeping the thumb taped while he helped the United States win the gold medal.

Paul aggravated the thumb injury on the first day of training camp with the U.S. team in Las Vegas in July. He got an X-ray that revealed a sprained right thumb.

Paul wore a protective splint over the thumb and was forced to sit out a few of the team’s scrimmages in Las Vegas.

He told reporters in Las Vegas that he first injured his thumb in the playoffs.

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