Charles Barkley has been playing hurt all season, but his latest injury was too much to ignore.
The Phoenix Suns placed last year's NBA MVP on the injured list Sunday because of a small tear in his right quadriceps tendon and activated small forward Cedric Ceballos.Barkley tore the tendon during the Suns' 110-103 victory over Minnesota on Friday night and underwent an MRI test Saturday. Team doctor Richard Emerson said it appeared Barkley wouldn't need surgery.
"Our plan right now is to allow time for healing and then rehabilitation," said Emerson, who will evaluate the seven-time All-Star forward this week to decide when Barkley can return.
"First, there has to be time for healing so that there's no pain. Then he has to completely rehabilitate that entire leg," Emerson said.
Barkley must sit out a minimum of five games because of being on the injured list.
Barkley had complained of back, hamstring, groin, elbow and knee problems this season but had not missed a game.
His health problems made headlines when he collapsed during training camp from fatigue and pressure a bulging disk in his lower back put on the nerves around it.
Ceballos, who missed the first 29 games because of a broken left foot, played seven minutes Sunday night against the Golden State Warriors, making one of four shots and getting two rebounds.
Ceballos led the NBA in field-goal accuracy last season (57.6 percent) and was averaging 21.5 points in the preseason when he broke his foot Oct. 17 in a game against Atlanta.