Staff and Wire Reports
Niagara Gazette
NIAGARA FALLS —
Niagara Falls native Jonny Flynn underwent successful surgery on his left hip Tuesday in Colorado that could sideline him for the start of his second season in the NBA.
The Minnesota Timberwolves said typical recovery time is three to four months, but the point guard is hoping to be healthy in time for the season opener in late October.
“He fully expects to be back before the start of the season,” said Sal Constantino, a mentor of Flynn’s who spoke with him Monday night.
Flynn was first injured in the second-to-last game of his rookie season, in which he averaged 13.5 points and 4.4 assists in 81 stars. He missed the final game of the regular season with the injury.
Flynn appeared healthy while playing pickup games at Niagara University in June. The Timberwolves said he aggravated the injury while working out with the team before summer league play.
This is Flynn’s first significant injury since he broke his ankle playing for the Niagara Falls High School junior varsity team as an eighth-grader. Flynn has cited that injury as the reason he never grew to be taller than 6-feet.
The Timberwolves signed veteran Luke Ridnour last week to a four-year deal, and indicated that he would compete with Flynn for the starting point guard position.
The team traded Ramon Sessions, Flynn’s backup last season, to Cleveland on Tuesday, along with Ryan Hollins, for point guards Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair.
The team plans to waive West, but Telfair may have a spot for the immediate future while Flynn recovers.
Minnesota also holds the rights to point guard Ricky Rubio, the Spanish sensation selected one spot ahead of Flynn in the 2009 draft. But Rubio is expected to remain with his club in Barcelona for at least one more season.
