Pelicans Smith Finally Undergoes Surgery

Published Jan. 29, 2014 9:20 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Pelicans starting center Jason Smith finally underwent surgery Wednesday to remove a piece of floating cartilage in his right knee that was threatening to cause further damage if left unattended.

Smith's procedure had been scheduled in New York for the past 7 days, since last Wednesday, but it was delayed at least once because of weather-related travel issues.

Wednesday afternoon, Smith tweeted out this picture of himself post-surgery, reporting that the procedure is a success and that he's now on the road to recovery.

The 7-foot Smith has started 27 of the 31 games he's played in this season for New Orleans. He's averaging 9.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1 block in 26.8 minutes per game. Smith is the most tenured veteran on the Pelicans squad, the only player the Dell Demps/Monty Williams regime retained once they took the reins of the organization.