US guard Chris Paul is pictured in action during the London 2012 Olympic Games men’s semifinal basketball game between Argentina and the USA at the North Greenwich Arena in London on August 10, 2012. AFP PHOTO /MARK RALSTON
LOS ANGELES–Chris Paul, the NBA All-Star point guard who helped the United States win basketball gold at the London Olympics, had successful surgery on his injured right thumb Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers said.
Paul tore a ligament in the thumb at a Team USA training camp in Las Vegas last month as the Americans prepared for the London Games.
The surgery was performed by Steven Shin, a hand specialist at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles.
Paul is expected to be sidelined for approximately eight weeks, at which time he is projected to resume all basketball activities including full contact training.
Despite the injury, Paul started all eight Games at the Olympics, averaging 8.3 points, 5.1 assists and an Olympic tournament-high 2.5 steals in 25 minutes per game.