Van Exel Returns Worried About Future

Nick Van Exel returned to practice Sunday after missing five days because of a chronic knee injury and said he understands it may force him to play the rest of his career in pain--a career that may be much shorter than almost anyone realizes.

The fifth-year point guard, in surprise comments, said he has already considered the possibility of retiring when his contract expires in the summer of 1999. The prospect of going beyond the next two seasons with the persistent pain of the bruised bone in the left knee only adds to the consideration.

“Because of what I’ve been through,” Van Exel said of his sometimes-tumultuous career. “Because you get tired. Because of the knee.”

The injury is the most pressing problem for now. Van Exel has seen three doctors in the last several days, even traveling to Oklahoma with the Lakers’ blessings Friday to consult with his personal physician. All came to the same conclusion, that rest can ease the pain but not eliminate the problem.

Van Exel said if the situation worsens he probably will have to undergo a third arthroscopic surgery on the joint, but it is uncertain whether that can be a cure. The bruise persists, instead of healing for good with several months rest over the off-season, because one of the operations when he was at the University of Cincinnati removed a piece of cartilage, creating an area in the knee where bone will constantly knock against bone.

In the meantime, Van Exel said he may have to sit out parts of practices during the season but does not plan to skip entire workouts or games. He showed good agility during Sunday’s three-hour workout at L.A. Southwest College, wearing a sleeve on the joint, and said he hopes to play in the final six exhibition games after missing the first two.

He can deal with the longer-term future after that.

“If it bothers me and bothers me,” Van Exel said, “I wouldn’t mind playing out my contract and just playing golf.”