Sampson to Have Another Knee Surgery

Ralph Sampson will undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage in his left knee and will be sidelined for at least four weeks, the Golden State Warriors announced.

Sampson injured the knee during the first half of the Warriors’ loss in Portland last Friday night. The 7-foot-4 center was examined by team physician Robert Albo, and a magnetic resonance image performed at Peralta Hospital in Oakland revealed the extent of the damage on Tuesday, a team spokesman said.

The surgery will be performed at the East Bay Medical Center in Castro Valley.

Sampson, slowed by two previous arthroscopic knee surgeries--one on each knee--is averaging a career low of 8.3 points and seven rebounds in 24 minutes per game this season.

He had arthroscopic surgery to remove torn cartilage in his left knee on Feb. 5, 1987, and missed 27 games before returning and averaging 18.6 points in 10 playoff games for Houston.