By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Australian Boomers are holding their collective breath on the eve of their flight to Japan for the 2023 FIBA World Cup, with starting center Jock Landale going down with what looked to be a serious ankle injury in their third warmup game, ESPN reports.
Midway through the first quarter of the Boomers’ exhibition game against South Sudan in Melbourne, Landale turned his left ankle after landing on the foot of Marial Shayok. The Boomers big man immediately clutched his ankle in pain, before hobbling straight to the locker room, unable to put significant pressure on his left foot.
Brian Goorjian says Jock Landale is not getting on the plane to Japan with the Australian Boomers on Friday. Landale will have an MRI tomorrow, but Goorjian said he doesn’t expect him to be available for the World Cup.
Landale, who just signed with the Houston Rockets, missed the Boomers’ first two preseason games at Rod Laver Arena with a right ankle injury.
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Frontcourt depth has been one of Australia’s question marks going into the World Cup – which takes place across three Asian countries from August 25 to September 10 – so a serious injury would put the Boomers at even more of a disadvantage going into the tournament.
Duop Reath has taken Landale’s place in the starting lineup over the course of the Boomers’ warmup games, while Nick Kay and Xavier Cooks have also seen minutes at the centre spot.