Australian basketball star Andrew Bogut's Olympic Games fate is set to be decided in the next three weeks.
Scans on the ankle Bogut broke in late January will determine whether he is any chance of playing for his new club Golden State Warriors this season, and his hopes of representing his country in London.
Bogut, who was traded from Milwaukee to Golden State in a blockbuster move this week, admits it will be a tough ask for him to play in the NBA this season regardless of how well his injury is healing.
A favourable scan means he should be fit in time for London.
But any complications, and Australia's highest profile basketballer faces an uphill battle to be at his peak for July's Games.
Regardless of the scan results, Bogut believes the Warriors are more likely to hold him back for 2012-13 rather than risk him in a handful of late-season games which may not matter.
"The last thing they'll want to do is rush me back to play in a couple of games," Bogut said.
"I've got to have scans at the eight-week point after I broke my ankle.
"If the scan goes well, and we make the playoffs, I could definitely be back.
"If the scan says we want you in the (moon) boot for another three or four weeks or they don't want me resuming too quick, it will come down to missing the season."
Bogut admits a season in which he has dealt with the NBA lockout, personal issues which forced a mercy dash to Australia once the season started, his latest injury and now his trade meant he had not thought much about the Olympics.
But if given the medical all-clear, Bogut is confident he can prepare solidly for London even without having played since January 25.
"It's a tough question to answer right now. To be honest, I haven't given it a whole lot of thought," Bogut said of whether he would be fit for Australia's Games campaign.
"Without talking myself up, I think I'm as professional as they come.
"I have my own workout and training facility in Melbourne, I'd be rehabbing and training like I would for any other event, and we have enough lead-up games to the Olympics to get ourselves ready."
Bogut completed medical checks with the Warriors on Thursday, and met his new team-mates and key club officials.
He will be presented to Warriors fans at the team's game on Saturday (AEDT) - against his old club Milwaukee.
Bogut joined the Bucks in 2005 - the first Australian to be selected at number one in the NBA draft.
The 27-year-old said he had experienced mixed emotions since finding out about his move, but was now relishing the prospect.
The California-based Warriors are thrilled with snaring Bogut, and are likely to build their team around him once he returns to full fitness.
"When I first heard the news I was excited. It's a franchise on the way up, a new city to live in, it's only one flight from Australia rather than two," he said.
"Then the next day when I started packing, I was sad because the Milwaukee Bucks are all I know in the NBA.
"Saying goodbye to the city where I spent my whole career, to the fans, it was tough.
"I've made a lot of great friends there, but at the same time, I'm excited about the journey that lies ahead."
AAP
Tags: sport, basketball, australia, united-states First posted March 16, 2012 15:40:39