Tyson Chandler Fibula Injury Leaves New York Knicks Without Starting Cennter; Could Be Out for 4 to 6 Weeks

The New York Knicks absorbed a huge blow to their campaign this 2013-14 NBA season after starting center Tyson Chandler sustained a non-displaced fracture on his right fibula that will keep him out of action for four to six weeks.

Chandler went out of the first quarter of their 102-97 loss to the Charlotte Bobcats on Tuesday after a collision with Kemba Walker.

The extent of the injury was revealed on Wednesday night, but the former Defensive Player of the Year, who averaged 7.3 points and 9.0 rebounds in their first four games, did not sustain any ligament or nerve damage that would require surgery.

Without Chandler, Knicks head coach Mike Woodson is expected to make a huge rotation adjustment with Kenyon Martin, Amar'e Stoudemire, and Cole Aldrich as possible replacements for the starting center spot.

However, Woodson added that both Stoudemire and Martin are playing under minutes restriction that will likely force him to start with a small lineup with Andrea Bargnani as center and superstar Carmelo Anthony as power forward.

"That's really the only route I have right now because of the fact that Kenyon and Amar'e are both on restricted minutes," Woodson said in an interview with Ian Begley of ESPN New York. "All we can do is nurse Chandler back. It's going to be a four- to six- week process and then welcome him back with open arms, because at the end of the day he is a big piece to what we're doing."

Woodson also addressed rumors that he is on his way out after the Knicks started the season with a 1-3 record, saying that he is not worried about his job security.

"I have been at this thing 30 years. And the one thing I never and will never do is look over my shoulder. I won't do that. I got too much pride for that. I think what we have done here for the last few years, we made some major ground and some major steps," said Woodson in an interview with Ohm Youngmisuk of ESPN.