Nets forward Jefferson has surgery

Hand specialist Dr. Charles Melone performed the 70-minute procedure at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan, NY. Jefferson will be in a cast for two months before he starts two more months of rehabilitation.

Jefferson, who signed a contract extension with the Nets in August, apparently suffered the injury on December 27 against Detroit when Pistons guard Chauncey Billups committed a flagrant foul. He played through the injury, but later aggravated it during a game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

In 33 games this season, Jefferson averaged 22.2 points, 7.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per contest.

The Arizona product started all 82 regular-season games last season for the Nets and averaged 18.5 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.8 assists per contest.

He was selected in the first round (13th overall) of the 2001 draft by the Houston Rockets. New Jersey then acquired Jefferson’s draft rights from Houston, along with the draft rights to Jason Collins, and Brandon Armstrong in exchange for the draft rights to Eddie Griffin.