Sore Right Knee Bothering Woolridge

Laker forward Orlando Woolridge’s chronically sore right knee forced him to miss his second practice in three days Monday, and Coach Pat Riley said there is a possibility arthroscopic surgery will be needed to determine the cause of pain and swelling in Woolridge’s knee.

Woolridge, who said that his knee flares up every training camp, had fluid drained from it Saturday. He played in Sunday night’s scrimmage but sat out again Monday. He was scheduled to be examined by a doctor Monday night and perhaps have more fluid drained.

“If he has it drained again tonight and then if it swells again, they may have to go in (with an arthroscope) and take a look at it,” Riley said. “If it turns out they have to go in and scope it, he could be back in a couple of days, unless they have to take something out. But even that puts him behind the rest of us.”

Woolridge, 29, said he has had the condition every fall since joining the NBA in 1981. He said this is the first time the swelling has been severe enough to have the knee drained.

“I scrimmaged (Sunday) night, and I felt all right. But I woke up (Monday) and it had (swelled) again.”

Riley, who has criticized the condition of all but a few players, said that Woolridge did not seem to be in shape when camp started.

“I know he’s had (the problem) before, but O wasn’t in the best of shape when he came here,” Riley said. “I can only go by the tests (body fat, treadmill, etc.) we give them. This is going to set him back and us back.”

Woolridge, however, said he worked out during the summer and felt twinges of pain in his knee even then.

“I was in shape to come in here and be competitive,” Woolridge said. “That’s not the problem. It’s the knee.”