Maggette Handles Camp, Ill Mom

The Clippers were at full strength Sunday with the arrival of starting forward Corey Maggette, whose mother underwent emergency heart surgery last week in Chicago.

The Clippers granted Maggette permission to remain with his mother, Marguerite, during the procedure and at the beginning of a lengthy recovery process.

At Marguerite’s urging, Corey left her side after four days and rejoined the team in time for morning practice at Santa Barbara City College. After practice, Maggette worked individually for more than an hour with assistant coach Kim Hughes.

Not surprisingly, though, Maggette’s thoughts were elsewhere.

“The reason I’m here is she said, ‘You can go.’ She felt comfortable so I could leave,” he said. “She’s doing a lot better.”

During a routine examination last week, physicians diagnosed Marguerite, 55, with a severe heart problem that required immediate surgery, Maggette said.

“It just came out of the blue,” he said. “She wasn’t sick, she was feeling good, and she had no idea. Thank God everything went smooth.”

Marguerite, who lives in Florida, is expected to recuperate in Chicago for at least two months, Maggette said.

“The biggest thing is my mom being comfortable,” Maggette said.

Maggette, who established personal bests with averages of 22.2 points and six rebounds last season and is among the team’s hardest workers, again reported to camp in great shape, the Clippers said.

Maggette, still recovering from a slight hamstring strain, said he would be ready to play in the first exhibition game Wednesday against Dallas at Staples Center.

“Pretty much, I know what’s going on,” Maggette said. “Coach hasn’t brought in any new plays, so the guys who have been here should be familiar with the plays we have set. I just want to get into the flow and get back up to game speed.”