Moses Malone Out Indefinitely for Surgery on Herniated Disk

MILWAUKEE —  Veteran center Moses Malone will undergo surgery to remove a herniated disk and will be lost to the Milwaukee Bucks for an indefinite period.

Malone, who has been put on the injured list, was bothered by the back problem from the beginning of training camp. The 37-year-old veteran, who is in his 17th NBA season, was trying to play through the pain without surgery.

But he changed his mind after meeting with David Haskell, the team’s orthopedic consultant.

“The decision to have surgery was made by Moses upon the recommendation of Dr. Haskell,” Buck Coach Mike Dunleavy said. “We’re looking for a speedy recovery and anxiously awaiting his return.”

Malone is the No. 4 scorer and fifth leading rebounder in NBA history. His loss is another setback for the rebuilding Bucks, who earlier lost point guard Sam Vincent to a ruptured Achilles’ tendon.