Dr. Phreeze
It is I...Yes it is...
Ronny Turiaf, the West Coast Conference player of the year at Gonzaga and a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Lakers, has an enlarged heart and will need open-heart surgery, possibly ending his career before it ever starts in the NBA.
Turiaf's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, confirmed to ESPN.com Thursday night that the condition was discovered during extensive medical testing in Los Angeles.
Lakers spokesman John Black said Turiaf would have open-heart surgery in four to six weeks. Black said Turiaf would meet with the media at 10 a.m. PT Friday in Los Angeles.
"Obviously he's disappointed," Black told The Associated Press on Thursday night. "I think it's fair to say he's anxious and somewhat scared to have to undergo open heart surgery. But now that he's had time for it to sink in, and looking at the big picture, he's hopeful for his future."
Black said it was too early to determine if the condition would be career-ending.
"We don't want to speculate on that, but obviously we're hopeful that if things go well he will be able to [play again],'' Black said.
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Turiaf's agent, Bouna Ndiaye, confirmed to ESPN.com Thursday night that the condition was discovered during extensive medical testing in Los Angeles.
Lakers spokesman John Black said Turiaf would have open-heart surgery in four to six weeks. Black said Turiaf would meet with the media at 10 a.m. PT Friday in Los Angeles.
"Obviously he's disappointed," Black told The Associated Press on Thursday night. "I think it's fair to say he's anxious and somewhat scared to have to undergo open heart surgery. But now that he's had time for it to sink in, and looking at the big picture, he's hopeful for his future."
Black said it was too early to determine if the condition would be career-ending.
"We don't want to speculate on that, but obviously we're hopeful that if things go well he will be able to [play again],'' Black said.
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