Derrick Coleman's injured right foot Monday, following a newspaper report that the power forward is through for the season.The Philadelphia Daily News quoted Coleman as saying he was examined by a specialist in Houston who advised him to sit out the last 28 games of the season. The Sixers lost to the Rockets in Houston on Thursday night.
| Coleman |
"I'm done for the rest of the season. That's what the doctor said. That's what he recommended,'' Coleman said.
A Sixers spokesman, however, said no decision has been reached on Coleman's availability except that he will sit out Saturday's game at San Antonio, which completes a five-game road trip.
Sixers team physician Dr. Jack McPhilemy will examine Coleman on Monday.
The Houston doctor reportedly diagnosed Coleman on Wednesday as having an injured tendon in the top of his foot.
Coleman has appeared in just 11 games for Philadelphia and is averaging 11.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has not played since sustaining an injury -- originally thought to be a sprained right ankle -- last Friday at Indiana.
"I've had ankle sprains before, and this wasn't just an ankle sprain. That's something I have known all along,'' he said. "I went and competed, but it would blow right back up.''
Philadelphia acquired Coleman on Nov. 30 in a six-player deal with the New Jersey Nets. He originally sprained his ankle in the second quarter of a game against Boston on Dec. 9.
Coleman, 28, missed New Jersey's first 13 games after doctors detected an irregular heartbeat during the preseason.
Coleman played in just 56 games last season and averaged 20.5 points and 10.6 rebounds per game. He requested a trade during training camp, but later backed off that demand.
Coleman was the top overall pick in the 1990 draft and won Rookie of the Year honors during his first season.
