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The Boston Celtics announced today that Paul Pierce had successful minor arthroscopic surgery on his left elbow at New England Baptist Hospital. The surgery was performed by Team Physician Dr. Brian McKeon and assisted by Dr. John Richmond.

Pierce is expected to begin rehabilitation immediately under the medical staff’s supervision and is expected to return by the start of Training Camp.

The Celtics captain and five-time NBA All-Star posted a banner year in 2005-06 when he averaged a career-high 26.8 points (on 47.1 percent field goal shooting), 6.7 rebounds, 4.7 assists and 1.4 steals in 39.0 minutes per game. He finished the campaign recording his fourth career 2,000 point season (scoring 2,116 points), matching him with Larry Bird for the most in franchise history. He finished sixth in the NBA in points per game and topped his franchise records for free throws made (627) and attempted (812) in a season.

Pierce led the team in scoring 63 times, in rebounds 26 times and in assists 30 times. He recorded 17 double-doubles and one triple-double (the sixth of his career), with 31 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists coming against Philadelphia on March 8. The 6’6” guard scored a career-high 50 points, to go with eight assists and seven rebounds against Cleveland on February 15.

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