Wizards' Thomas could play again after heart operation

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Washington Wizards center Etan Thomas has been told he could play in the NBA again after undergoing successful heart surgery.

Thomas, who has played six seasons in the NBA, had an operation on Thursday to repair a leak in his aortic valve.

"We think that his heart and the function of his heart and lungs should return to normal. It is possible he could get back to playing professional level basketball," said Dr. Hartzell Schaff, cardiovascular surgeon at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester where Thomas was operated on.

Schaff said he expected Thomas to be out of hospital next Friday and then he would need two months to recover. Wizards president Ernie Grunfeld welcomed the news and said the team were not even thinking about the player's possible return.

"Our number one concern has always been Etan's health. The long term prognosis seems to be very good, so we feel very good for Etan and his family about that.

"This isn't about basketball right now. This is about him getting healthy. The doctor feels that he can do that. I don't think you put a time frame on it. It's going to take time, but obviously we'll monitor the situation," he said.

Thomas, the Wizards' leading center, was not cleared to attend a training camp after a routine medical check-up revealed an abnormality which doctors now say he has had since birth.