Orlando, FL – Orlando Magic All-Star center Dwight Howard will undergo surgery on the herniated disc in his back and will miss the remainder of the season, according to a report.
Magic officials told the Orlando Sentinel that he would have the procedure on Friday morning, and that it would also preclude his participation in the 2012 Olympics.
The 26-year-old center has missed eight games this season with the issue, including the last six, more than he had missed in his first seven seasons in the NBA combined. When in the lineup, he has averaged 20.6 points and a league-best 14.5 rebounds per contest.
Orlando has clinched a playoff berth and sits in sixth place in the Western Conference with a 36-26 record, but is 3-5 without Howard.
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