Jackson to miss rest of WNBL season

Updated January 10, 2013 11:51:43

Basketball star Lauren Jackson is expected to make a full recovery from her hamstring injury after undergoing surgery in Melbourne, but will play no part in the 2012/13 WNBL season.

Since returning to Australia last month, Lauren has had to repeatedly postpone her return to the WNBL after undergoing a number of medical assessments over her injury, which she picked up while playing for Australia during the London 2012 Olympics.

The Canberra Capitals centre was released this morning after a successful surgery and will be rested for the next three weeks, before starting a light rehabilitation program.

"I'm very happy that I've now had this operation, and I'm delighted with the medical opinion that I should be able to make a full recovery," Jackson said in a statement.

Basketball ACTchief executive Tony Jackson said his first concern was ensuring the star was fit for future WNBL seasons.

"While we're obviously disappointed that we won't see Lauren back on the court this season, we're pleased this surgery has gone well and that we've got some clarity and positivity surrounding her injury," he said.

"Lauren adds tremendous value to the profile of the Canberra Capitals, and we're heartened to hear she'll make a full recovery so she can play for the team in future seasons."

Acting Basketball Australia chief executive Graeme Allen said Lauren Jackson's long-term career and welfare was top priority.

"We've said from the start that Lauren's long-term career sustainability and welfare are top priority here," he said.

"Basketball Australia will support Lauren in any way we can through her rehabilitation and we wish her a speedy recovery back to 100 per cent fitness."

Tags: wnbl, basketball, sport, canberra-2600, act, australia

First posted January 10, 2013 11:28:43

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Taipans' Baynes set to sign for San Antonio

By Sam Davis

Updated January 10, 2013 13:40:59

Cairns Taipans academy graduate Aron Baynes is reportedly set to sign with the NBA's San Antonio Spurs this week.

The 208cm centre will join fellow Australian Patty Mills in Spurs' squad, after starring in the Euroleague with Slovenia's KK Union Olimpija following an impressive Olympics with the Boomers.

Former mentor and Cairns Taipans coach Aaron Fearne says the call up is fitting reward for the hard working Baynes.

He says several NBA scouts were looking at Baynes recently.

"All the credit goes to him. He's incredibly driven and passionate," Fearne says.

"He's temperamental but I like those guys. I think you can mould those guys into solid, aggressive players."

Baynes is the second far north Queensland player groomed by Fearne to be picked up by an NBA team.

Bamaga's Nathan Jawai was drafted in 2008 playing with the Toronto Raptors and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Fearne says such success is rare for a regional community.

"I was just saying to my wife last night, to have two guys from here and from the environments they've come from, to be in the NBA is pretty special," Fearne said.

"We're all pretty proud of that. I still remember the first day he walked through the door as a bottom-aged under-18s [player]. He was not real skilled.

"He was just this big kid, very gangly and not very coordinated, but he just worked."

Former Australian Boomers head coach Brett Brown is also an assistant with San Antonio.

Tags: nbl, basketball, sport, cairns-4870, qld, australia, united-states

First posted January 10, 2013 13:40:59

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Capitals kick-off centenary celebrations

Updated January 03, 2013 15:17:18

The Canberra Capitals will kick-off a series of top level sporting contests on Friday to mark Canberra's centenary celebrations.

The Capitals will take on the Dandenong Rangers in the Women's National Basketball League (WNBL) wearing a one-off centenary uniform.

The centenary sporting calendar includes a one day international cricket match later in January and a rugby league test match in April.

Capitals coach Carrie Graf says her team is proud to be part of the celebrations.

"I'd hope anything would spark us into a winning streak," she said.

"For us to be a part of the centenary celebrations... we've been an integral part of the city for a long time in terms of being part of the sporting landscape.

"We hope to continue to be that always and continue to represent Canberra with pride."

Sports Minister Andrew Barr says the new uniforms are an exciting way to start the centenary year.

"It's fantastic that our most successful sporting team in the history of national league teams in Canberra, the Capitals, will be the first team out on court tomorrow night," he said.

"We've certainly been working with the teams in the design of their particular outfits, the theme of course being yellow."

Fans are also asked to share in the centenary spirit by wearing yellow to the games.

Tags: states-and-territories, wnbl, act, canberra-2600

First posted January 03, 2013 15:16:04

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