:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48588091/GettyImages-499675706.0.jpg)
As was reported on January 6th, DeMarre Carroll, the Raptors' big free agent acquisition this past off-season, underwent arthroscopic knee surgery on his right knee. He's been out since then, and has only played in five games since December 6th, 2015. It's been a tough run for the guy. Today, Carroll had his first post-surgery chat with the media.
First, how is Carroll feeling?
"Good. I'm on the road to recovery. I feel, you know, a lot of relief on my shoulder, just being able to have that behind and start to feeling back to normal."
On the procedure and the aftermath:
"They just went in and cleaned some stuff up. I didn't have nothing major, just go in and clean some stuff up. I had a lot of inflammation, I was playing with a lot of inflammation in my knee for a long period of time. He [the Doctor] was kind of surprised that I hadn't done it sooner. But at the same time, I try to fight through it.
"...They just went in there and cleaned some stuff up, some loose stuff. I'm just happy it was no meniscus or anything of that nature. I think it was better for me to get done sooner rather than later."
On a timetable for return:
"They haven't given me any indication, but I'm moving ahead of schedule. I'm just happy that I'm moving ahead of schedule. I just want to get back out there on the court. And get back out there and play at a level I know I can play at, what I should be playing at."
Carroll confirmed that the knee trouble started way back on November 13th, during the Raptors' game against the New Orleans Pelicans. He says in that game in landed funny but, with the adrenaline flowing, played through it. Carroll then kept going until the Clippers game on the 22nd that saw the knee aggravated by a collision with DeAndre Jordan. He then tried to play through it for another couple weeks, before sitting out, coming back again and then finally, finally, having the knee surgery.
On the positive side, Carroll mentioned that the recovery period is something of a blessing in disguise, as it will allow his feet, which had been suffering from a bout of plantar fasciitis, to rest and heal. And, after the cameras in the locker room went away, Carroll showed off a picture of him laid up, cradling both his new born son Amare, and his young daughter. He has a lot of reasons to be in good spirits.