Three months after undergoing open-heart surgery to repair a leaky valve, Wizards center Etan Thomas has begun to work out but has not been cleared to practice. Haraz N. Ghanbari/ASSOCIATED PRESS Visit the Photo Place

Thomas hopes to return soon

Wizards Report

Date published: 1/25/2008

BY ADAM HIMMELSBACH

WASHINGTON--There was a loud ovation, and the man with the mended heart looked up at the Jumbotron to see what the fuss was about.

Then he saw himself on the large screen, and he realized the fuss was about him.

Wizards center Etan Thomas, who underwent surgery to repair a leak in his aortic valve last October, attended his first game of this season on Monday.

While his teammates wore jerseys and shorts, Thomas wore street clothes and sat at the end of the bench. Doctors have not cleared him to practice yet, but Thomas said it was only a matter of time.

"I don't have a leaky valve anymore," Thomas said. "I don't have a [heart] murmur. My first question was: 'Can I safely play? Can I safely practice? Can I do all the things I want to do in returning to the game I love?' They told me that wouldn't be a problem."

Thomas said he learned he had a heart murmur when he was in middle school.

To repair the leak in the aortic valve, doctors had to break Thomas' sternum. With his valve repaired, he now has to wait for his sternum to heal. He has started light workouts, but he has not been cleared for a full-contact practice.

"We understand he's done everything diligently; he's gotten himself into shape," Wizards coach Eddie Jordan said of Thomas. "He feels good. The doctors have given the directions to getting back the right way, and he's going to take those steps to get back."

Last season, the 29-year-old Thomas averaged 6.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game.

If he returns this season, he would compete for playing time with center Brendan Haywood and rookie Oleksiy Pecherov.

This season Haywood is averaging 10.3 points and 7.7 rebounds, both career highs.

DEFENSE? WHAT DEFENSE?

After the Wizards held the Dallas Mavericks to 84 points Monday, there was much talk about their renewed defensive commitment.

After all, it was the eighth team in the previous nine games that Washington held below 100.

And the Mavericks are the eighth-highest scoring team in the league.

But then Washington traveled to Cleveland.

Then the Cavaliers scored 121 points. (The Wizards, for the record, scored just 85).

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Date published: 1/25/2008