If the Wizards' Arenas returns he'll be an "assist man"

By Steve Ginsburg

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Injured Washington Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas is hoping to return to the line-up this season but has been told by doctors his mobility would not return before next year.

The three-times All-Star guard played only eight games before a troublesome knee injury forced him to the sidelines in November.

"I'm hoping to play this season," Arenas told reporters on Monday. "I want to play. It's hard when you have done something your whole life and then it gets taken away from you.

"Hopefully I can get back out there."

Arenas, 26, was one of the NBA's top scorers before suffering a season-ending knee injury last year. He had surgery in April 2007 and insisted the knee had healed completely.

But Arenas played in only a handful of games this season before suffering an injury to the same knee.

The seven-year NBA veteran, who has averaged 23 points over his career, admitted he came back too soon. He said doctors have told him to tone it down if he returns this season.

"They told me that this year I won't be me," he said. "I have to come back as an assist man. I have to try to stay out of going to the hole, and I have to be careful.