Manning’s Surgery Discloses No Further Damage to Knee

Reconstructive surgery on the right knee of rookie forward Danny Manning Saturday morning showed no signs of damage beyond the torn anterior cruciate ligament, the Clippers announced.

The procedure, in which a tendon from Manning’s leg was removed and placed in the knee to take the place of the damaged ligament, lasted approximately 2 1/2 hours at Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood. Dr. Stephan J. Lombardo, a Laker team physician, performed the operation.

Manning, the National Basketball Assn.’s No. 1 pick, will be lost to the Clippers for the rest of this season and could also miss much, if not all, of 1989-90. He will be hospitalized 3 to 4 days.

“We’re happy to learn that Dr. Lombardo found no further damage in Danny’s knee,” General Manager Elgin Baylor said. “We know the rehabilitation plays a great part in the recovery of the patient. With Danny’s work ethic, desire and determination, we’re very optimistic about his return.”

Said Lombardo: “The surgery will be considered a success when the player returns to his pre-injury playing level.”

Manning, the 1988 college player of the year at Kansas, injured the knee while planting to take off for a layup in the first quarter of the Clippers’ Jan. 4 game at Milwaukee.

In 26 games, he averaged 16.6 points, 6.6 rebounds and 3.1 assists.