Boomers World Cup: Ankle injury rules Jock Landale out of tournament
Australia's medal chances in the World Cup have been dealt a major blow after star big man Jock Landale was injured. His words to the team are as follows.
After losing one of their most valuable players, Jock Landale, to a horrific ankle injury on Friday, the Boomers' World Cup squad rushed off to Japan.
After having his preparation halted by an issue with his right ankle, Landale rolled his left ankle five minutes into the Boomers' pregame triumph over South Sudan on Thursday night in Melbourne.
Code Sports has learned that tournament captaincy will be shared by seasoned players Patty Mills and Joe Ingles.
Landale, still reeling from the news that his World Cup campaign may have been over before it ever began, rallied behind his teammates.
"Sitting here this morning knowing the Boomers are about to take off to Japan, and I'm absolutely kicking myself that I'm not right there beside them," tweeted Landale.
As athletes, it's frustrating to put in all that work only to have it canceled at the last minute.
My attention now shifts to the @HoustonRockets and doing whatever I can to help them out this season.
Jack White, Landale's former colleague and a stablemate at Sports International Group, was given a break after Landale's injury.
As a result, the already small Boomers will enter the competition with only one recognized center, Duop Reath, who showed promise as a pick-and-roll partner for standout point guard Josh Giddey in the three games played at Rod Laver Arena, averaging 17 points per game.
When he takes a break, Xavier Cooks and Nick Kay will likely take over the five.
"I think the blueprint is becoming clearer, offensively and defensively, on what we need to do when we get there, to win," coach Brian Goorjian said after the game.
As the saying goes, "It was pretty cloudy coming into these three games, but it's clearer now."
Chris Goulding, a sharpshooter for Melbourne United who was injured in a match on Thursday, was expected to play in both of the Boomers' pre-tournament games in Japan, despite the fact that coach Steve Goorjian claimed the team was being "extra cautious" with his knee injury.
From going undrafted out of St. Mary's to playing in Europe to having a great NBL championship season with Melbourne United, Landale has made a practice of betting on himself throughout his career.
The first year of Landale's four-year, $50 million (US$32 million) deal with the Rockets is guaranteed, following stops in San Antonio and Phoenix.
On Friday, Landale had imaging done in Melbourne; the results have not yet been made public.
On Sunday, the Boomers will play France in a tune-up game in Tokyo before flying to Okinawa to take on the Bulldogs.
On Friday, the real World Cup action kicks off against Finland.
BOOMERS FINAL WORLD CUP SQUAD
Members of the team: Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, and Josh Green
Jack White, Matisse Thybulle, Duop Reath, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, and Nick Kay