Tiago Splitter is “a little bit ahead of schedule” in his rehabilitation from right hip surgery that prematurely ended his first season with the Hawks, the center told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Monday. The reserve center said he expects to be ready for next season.
Splitter underwent the season ending surgery in February after just 36 games.
“It’s great,” Splitter said of his rehabilitation. “I’ve started to jog. I’ve started to do some stuff on the court. I’ve started to get my strength back. We are working each week on getting my strength back, speed, jumping onto boxes. It’s getting there.”
Splitter averaged 5.6 points and 3.3 rebounds in 16.1 minutes last season. When healthy, he was the first reserve off the bench. The Hawks went 21-15 in games in which he played and 10-9 in those he did not. However, he was nagged by a sore hip for much of the season and eventually opted for surgery. He had the procedure in New York at the Hospital for Special Surgery. He was expected to miss eight months.
“Every week is getting better,” Splitter said. “I think we are a little bit ahead of schedule of where I’m supposed to be but we want to be calm and be ready for next season.”
Splitter will remain in Atlanta for much of the offseason for his rehabilitation. He will return to his native Brazil in July for a youth basketball camp and again in August for the Summer Olympic Games, where he will serve as a television commentator. Splitter said the Hawks will send a representative to Brazil so he can continue his rehabilitation work.
“The Hawks and I have agreed to keep working because it’s really important,” Splitter said.
Splitter still would not disclose the exact nature of the surgical procedure.
“Eventually, we’ll throw that out,” he said with a smile.
Splitter will enter the final year of his contract next season after the Hawks acquired him in a trade from the Spurs last summer.
