Fox’s Foot Surgery Goes ‘Very Well’

Rick Fox underwent surgery Monday morning to repair a tendon in his left foot, torn during the Lakers’ first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, and to align his heel.

The procedure, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York, went “very well,” according to a statement released by Fox’s representatives.

Fox’s foot and ankle will be immobilized for six weeks, then he will begin a rehabilitation schedule of unknown length. In the best scenario, he could be ready by training camp, though Fox had said the recovery period could be six months or longer.

During surgery, Drs. Jonathan Deland and William Hamilton found Fox’s peroneus longus tendon was too damaged to be rejoined, so they attached it to a different tendon, an outcome they considered before the procedure.

While in the recovery room, Fox told a Laker official, after the sixth doctor reminded him it would be a long recovery, and that he should not press his rehabilitation too quickly, “I’m clear on that now.”

He was expected to spend Monday night at the hospital, remain in the New York area until the end of the week, then rejoin the team.

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In Phil Jackson’s news conference Monday, during which he somberly revealed he’d considered retiring after the season and still might, a local TV reporter blurted, “Shaq said you were probably at home watching [Game 4] buck naked. Why would he say that? And were you?”

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Jackson coached Game 3 knowing something was amiss with his heart, and so on the bench he practiced his breathing techniques and tried to stay calm, even as Jack Nicholson was going “The Shining” on everyone, and Tex Winter was in full rant.

“He was so angry, basically at Kobe [Bryant] for some of the things he was doing out there, I did tell him, ‘You’re going to give me a heart attack if you don’t settle down,’ ” Jackson said. “[But] for the most part, I felt I was in much better shape Friday than I was Monday and Wednesday, which were hard, hard games for me to be on the bench.”

Jackson was medicated Friday night.

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By the time the Lakers arrived at the 1-1-1 portion of their best-of-seven first-round series, they had a feel for the Timberwolves, and eliminated them in six games.

They return to San Antonio tonight, not having won at SBC Center in four previous games, including the first two games of the Western Conference semifinals.

“I don’t know what it is,” Shaquille O’Neal said. “I remember we were pretty unbeatable when [Staples Center] opened. But we just have to keep ... playing ball like we can, and we’ll be fine.”

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Derek Fisher took 11 shots in Games 1 and 2, 18 in Games 3 and 4.... Bruce Bowen, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker and Stephen Jackson combined to shoot 33 for 68 in the Spurs’ wins, 26 for 78 in the losses.

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Associated Press contributed to this report.