missing the entirety of the 2011–2012 and 2012–2013 NBA seasons. The former San Antonio Spurs and Houston Rockets player, Tracy McGrady also underwent microfracture surgery; doctors were confident that the two-time scoring champion will return to full strength. As of 2012 he has not had the same speed and jumping ability he formerly did. McGrady retired in 2013, never regaining his previous form after the surgery. In October 2005, young star Amar'e Stoudemire of the NBA's Phoenix Suns underwent one of the highest-profile microfracture surgeries to date. He returned to the court in March 2006 and initially appeared to have made a full recovery, but subsequently started feeling stiffness in both knees (his right knee had been overcompensating for the injured left knee). He and the team doctor decided he needed more time to rehab and he did not return until the 2006–2007 NBA season. During the 2006–2007 season, Stoudemire returned to form, averaging 20.4 points and 9.6 rebounds per game while playing in all 82 regular-season games and the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. His success brought positive publicity to the procedure, further distancing it from a previous reputation as a possible "career death sentence" in the sports world, though he was one of the youngest of the aforementioned players to undergo the surgery. In June 2010, Grady Sizemore of the Cleveland Indians underwent microfracture surgery after injuring his left knee while diving back to first base earlier in the season. Sizemore was re-activated as the Indians center fielder in April 2011, ending an 11-month stretch of being disabled due to his injury. In his first game back on April 17, 2011, Sizemore showed no signs of slowing down as he had two hits in four AB which included a double and home run. Currently, Sizemore is the only player in MLB history to come back from knee microfracture surgery and play center field. Vontaze Burfict, a linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals, is one of the few notable NFL players to have the surgery. Recovery One study has shown a success rate of 75 to 80 percent among patients 45 years of age or younger. It is an outpatient procedure and causes only small discomfort. The harder part is the restrictions that are placed on the patient during the post-operative recovery period. This can be a major challenge for many patients. For optimal re-growth of joint surface, the patients need