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Chris Webber performs his greatest athletic feats these days on an underwater treadmill or a training table. His opponents are his left knee, his stamina and a variety of rubber devices that build his strength and endurance.
``Rehab is torture sometimes,'' Webber said.
It's still better than being in a courtroom.
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The Sacramento Kings' superstar forward would prefer to spend October tuning
up for another season instead of doing seemingly endless rehabilitation exercises
as he recovers from his latest serious injury. Still, Webber is grateful to
concentrate on basketball instead of his messy legal problems, which finally
are headed to an end.
``I don't regret anything I've been through, because it's part of the things that make you who you are,'' said Webber, who hopes to return to the Kings' lineup in early December. Ticketmaster
``When you're working out, all you want to think about is those people that get to you -- whatever you can do for motivation. ... I've got plenty of motivation. There's no shortage of that.''
Webber hasn't run at full speed since his knee gave out in the second game of last spring's Western Conference semifinals on May 8. During surgery to repair his torn meniscus, doctors discovered a small fracture in his leg just above the knee.
It had gone undetected during the season, when Webber thought he had tendinitis. Instead, he had two injuries that inhibited the normal rehabilitation work for each other -- and left him with several months of recovery ahead.
``It seems like it's been two years since I had my surgery, because of how much work we've had to do,'' Webber said. ``I didn't realize I'd have to train every part of my leg again.'' Ticketmaster
Injuries are nothing new to Webber, who has missed significant portions of the Kings' last three seasons. He severely sprained his ankles each year, and some in the Kings' organization whispered about his dedication to rehab -- until this summer, when his hard work was obvious.
``People can rightfully ask, 'How durable is he?''' Webber said. ``Those are valid questions until I prove otherwise.''
Webber's knee isn't the only thing in need of rehabilitation. In July, Webber pleaded guilty to charges of lying to a grand jury about his relationship with Ed Martin, a Michigan booster who claimed he lent $616,000 to Webber and three other Wolverines.
Last month, Webber's sentencing was delayed for two years by a judge who infuriated federal prosecutors by ordering the basketball star to perform at least 300 hours of volunteer work in the meantime.
Webber's lawyers still forbid him from discussing specifics about the case.
``There's plenty of things I want to say,'' Webber said. ``I just have to be patient and wait for the chance. I'm 30 years old. We all grow and mature. I just want to go forward and redefine myself as a player and a person. That's my goal for this year.''
Webber was on crutches for eight weeks after his surgery. He spent several hours every day on his couch, with a passive motion device slowly flexing his knee. He lost most of his leg strength to atrophy.
``I've watched a lot of TV this year,'' he said.
He has taken countless gradual steps back to health with the constant help of Kings assistant trainer Manny Romero, who followed Webber to Alabama, Los Angeles and New York at various points during the summer to keep the workouts on track. Romero also worked with team doctors and Webber's surgeon to devise a regimen that would minimize recovery time -- while keeping in mind Webber's injury history.
``Since he's had some ankle problems before, a lot of the exercises we did helped strengthen his ankle as well as his knee,'' Romero said. Ticketmaster
While his teammates were in Houston on Thursday to play an exhibition game against the Rockets, Webber was at the Kings' training complex early in the morning. He shot sets of 200 jumpers and lifted weights before beginning his rehab work.
Romero employs a variety of devices in his training, from a simple medicine ball to a $56,000 underwater treadmill purchased by the Kings largely for Webber's benefit. Though Webber isn't allowed to run on the court, Romero puts him through dozens of agility drills every week, from simple lunges to elaborate footwork and balance exercises.
Webber will return to Alabama to consult with Dr. James Andrews in two weeks, giving the Kings more information about his return. There's no timetable, but Webber insists he won't miss more than a few weeks of the regular season, which will start without him for the second time in three years.
``I'm definitely more concerned about us this year than I've ever been in the years I've been here,'' Webber said, citing the Kings' reshuffling of their bench and the addition of All-Star center Brad Miller.
``Chemistry is just as important as the skill part of it, and we have to establish that chemistry. That doesn't happen right away. We owe it to each other to keep it going while people are out.''