Sean May has a message for everyone fed up with his injuries:
He is, too.
Sensing his NBA career approaches a crossroad, May looks in fine shape. He weighs between 265 and 270 pounds, and while he'll never be svelte, the pudginess is gone.
He's playing pickup ball every day at the Charlotte Bobcats training facility, and says he's pain-free from the right knee injury that cost him most of his first three pro seasons.
“I know a lot of people have been frustrated. I've been frustrated. But my whole goal is to prove myself,” May said after a two-hour workout Wednesday.
“I have a lot to prove to this organization, to this team, to myself and to the fans. That's the only thing on my mind: That thankfully enough, I've been given another opportunity to play.”
Last October, May had micro-fracture surgery to correct a chronic bone bruise. Micro-fractures seek to create scar tissue to replace cartilage, the body's natural shock-absorber.
May started playing three weeks ago, first every other day and now on a daily basis. He has a machine at home that combines ice and compression to avoid swelling in his knee.
“I'm running good; still a little ways to go with conditioning and my wind, but with a couple of weeks to go (before training camp at UNC Wilmington), I'll start to push myself a little bit more.”
Despite the setbacks since the Bobcats drafted him 13th overall in 2005, May has a chance to start at power forward. New coach Larry Brown said as much during summer league in Las Vegas.
May understands that's as much about the Bobcats' lacking depth at power forward as an endorsement of his value.
“The whole time during the draft I was sweating that they'd get a power forward. I've been lucky, throughout the injuries, that I still have an opportunity,” he said.
“I asked (Brown) today, ‘How am I playing?' and he said, ‘Sean, you look great for not to have been playing for a year. If no one knew you had surgery last October, they wouldn't be able to tell because you know the game and how to play.'
“That's fine that he's saying that, but at the end of the day, I still have to go out and prove I'm worthy of those comments.”
Morrison update
Small forward Adam Morrison, who missed last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, is playing without a brace or pain.
The challenge now is restoring confidence when making the sharp cuts and stops-and-starts his position requires. This is Morrison's first major injury.
“It feels OK,” he said. “Changing directions is still a little bit shaky, mentally more than anything. My explosion is not quite there, but that just takes time (since) I haven't played 5-on-5 in 12 months. But I'm happy where I am right now.”
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