UCLA’s O’Bannon Gets the Go-Ahead to Play Full Games

Ed O’Bannon, the UCLA basketball player who underwent reconstructive surgery on his left knee last fall, has cleared another hurdle in his comeback attempt.

Dr. Michael Shapiro, who repaired the knee during five hours of surgery last Oct. 18, has given O’Bannon clearance to play in full-court pickup games and predicted that O’Bannon will be available to play for the Bruins at the start of the season.

“If they want to use him on Nov. 15,” Shapiro said, referring to the Bruins’ opener against Indiana in the Hall of Fame game at Springfield, Mass., “I think he’ll be available and probably ready to play as much as they want him to play.”

Shapiro said he is encouraged by O’Bannon’s progress.

“I think he’s going to be more completely recovered in another few months, but I see no reason to slow him down at this point because he’s able to (play) without difficulty,” Shapiro said. “He has no knee pain and no instability. The worst that has happened is occasional swelling, which doesn’t disturb me at this stage.”