NBA | Spurs scoring leader Manu Ginobili needs surgery

SAN ANTONIO — San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili, who helped Argentina in its bronze-medal run in the Beijing Olympics this month, will have surgery to repair a ligament injury in his left ankle.

Spurs officials said Friday that Ginobili will have surgery next week. The team will announce a timeline for his return after the surgery.

Ginobili said an MRI of his ankle showed no improvement from a previous exam about two months ago. He led the Spurs in scoring last season, averaging 19.5 points in the regular season, and won the league's award as outstanding sixth man.

"They're going to operate on me," the 31-year-old Ginobili told Argentina's La Nacion newspaper Friday. "It's not worse, which is important. Now, the thing is, it's not better, either, and it seems like the only way to repair it completely is arthroscopic surgery."

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich had urged Ginobili not to compete in the Olympics unless the injury improved.

But Ginobili was cleared to play. He competed in the Games and also carried the flag for Argentina at the opening ceremony in Beijing.

Ginobili hobbled off the court during Argentina's loss in the semifinal round to the United States, which proceeded to win the gold medal. Ginobili did not play in Argentina's bronze-medal victory over Lithuania.

"My plan was to be part of the Olympic Games, and I knew that if I suffered from pain they would have to operate," Ginobili told the newspaper. "This isn't something that took me by surprise."

The injury hobbled Ginobili during the NBA playoffs, particularly during the Western Conference final series against the Los Angeles Lakers, when his signature explosiveness was visibly absent.

At the end of the season, Ginobili had an injection in the ankle. Ginobili wore a walking boot for several weeks starting in June after an MRI showed a ligament to be five times the size of the one in his other foot.

Knicks acquire

Patrick Ewing Jr.

NEW YORK — Talk about pressure. Forward Patrick Ewing Jr. is following in the footsteps of his famous father again.

The New York Knicks acquired the younger Ewing from the Houston Rockets in exchange for the draft rights to center Frederic Weis, one of the most widely panned picks in franchise history.

"Coming to the Knicks, and hopefully being able to contribute, means a lot to me," Ewing Jr. said in a statement. "It has always been my dream to play for this team. My goal is to show the coaches that I can play and do all that I can to help the team win some games."

Ewing was selected by Sacramento with the 43rd pick in this year's draft and traded with Ron Artest to the Rockets on Aug. 14. Ewing is on to New York, where his father played center and ruled the paint at Madison Square Garden for 15 of his 17 pro seasons. He played for the Sonics in the 2000-01 season, averaging 9.6 points.

"I am very happy my son will follow in my footsteps," said Ewing, an assistant coach with the Orlando Magic.

"Hopefully he will have a long and productive career in New York. I am proud of him and wish him nothing but success."

Note

• The National Basketball Players Association suspended player agent Calvin Andrews for one year for alleged recruiting improprieties regarding former USC standout O.J. Mayo.

Mayo and Andrews, of Bill Duffy Associates, parted ways in May.

Mayo, a guard, played one season at USC; he was drafted at No. 3 in the first round this year by Minnesota and was traded to Memphis.