Heat say Wade knee operation ‘successful’

Dwyane Wade (R) of the Miami Heat drives past Kendrick Perkins of the Oklahoma City Thunder during Game 5 of the NBA Finals on June 21, 2012 at the American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida. AFP / DON EMMERT

MIAMI — Miami star guard Dwyane Wade had surgery on his troublesome left knee on Monday and is expected to be ready for action when NBA training camps open in October, the Heat said.

Wade played through injury in the playoffs as the Heat captured the NBA championship with a victory in the NBA Finals over the Oklahoma City Thunder.

However, the need for surgery meant that Wade, the leading scorer on the US Olympic basketball team that won gold in Beijing four years ago, had to withdraw from the American team for the London Games.

In a statement posted on the team’s website, the Heat called Monday’s 20-minute procedure “successful” and said Wade would begin physical therapy immediately.

Wade, an eight-time All-Star and two-time NBA champion, averaged 22.1 points, 4.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists for the Heat in the lockout-shortened regular season and averaged 22.8 points in the post-season.