Dunleavy surgery was risky

? About five weeks ago, Mike Dunleavy thought his basketball career might be over.

The pain in his right knee was severe enough to cut his comeback short, and the high-scoring Indiana Pacers guard agreed to a risky surgery to remove a bone spur. He was told he might not regain the strength to play again after the procedure.

“Beforehand, they were probably saying 50-50,” Dunleavy told the Associated Press. “Now, the way I’m progressing and the way I’m moving forward, we feel very confident that I’ll be able to get back, and probably better than I was.”

Dunleavy finished sixth in the most improved player award voting last season after averaging 19.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game.