Basketball Australia is resigned to Bogut missing the September series against New Zealand because of the American NBA wages dispute and an inability to insure the Boomers star for the tournament.
NBA team owners and the players' union have been unable to reach consensus on a new wages agreement, which keeps all players off the court until a resolution is reached.
And that means Milwaukee Bucks star Bogut has no insurance to play anywhere, including the three-game series from September 7 to 11 which will decide whether Australia makes next year's London Olympics.
Basketball Australia boss Larry Sengstock said Bogut would be disappointed to miss the series because he is committed to the national program.
"Bogut has always held his national commitments and the Boomers' program as a high priority throughout his career," Sengstock said.
"It's disappointing for us that we may not have him for the New Zealand series but it also highlights the level of player that he is."
Last season Bogut battled an elbow injury which required late-season surgery, as well as back and wrist problems.
Basketball Australia privately remains hopeful the NBA lockout can be resolved before the series.
That would then free Bogut to take part.
But Boomers head coach Brett Brown is confident other players can fill the gap left by their star centre, should he miss the matches in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.
"The NBA lockout has made his insurance issues impossible for Basketball Australia and Andrew to feel comfortable that his contract would be fully insured in the event of injury and, as a group, we understand and support Andrew," Brown said.
"I am however excited to compete against New Zealand with the current group of players that are more than capable of representing Australia from a talent perspective and a spirit perspective that we all expect."
NBA team owners ordered a lockout of players to start on Friday as last-ditch talks failed, setting up a shutdown which threatens the 2011-12 season.
The first NBA work stoppage since the 1998-99 season was reduced to 50 games will also halt trades, free agent signings and contract talks.
It also prohibits players and clubs from having contact until the issue is resolved.
-AAP
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, united-states First posted July 1, 2011 15:27:00
No comments:
Post a Comment