‘Shocking’: Boomer Jock Landale’s horror World Cup injury blow

Aussie NBA star Jock Landale’s World Cup campaign could be over before it began after a horror moment in a warm-up game in Melbourne.

That looks horrific. Photo: Channel 9

Australia’s FIBA World Cup preparations have been rocked after Houston Rockets centre Jock Landale went down with an ankle injury early in the Boomers’ warm-up clash against South South on Thursday night.

On the scoreboard, the World No. 3 Boomers’ preparations for the World Cup were righted after their shock loss against Brazil on Wednesday, claiming a 88-67 win over their World No. 62 ranked opponents.

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While the result was far from perfect for the Boomers, it was a step in the right direction as the side entered the match without Chris Goulding and Joe Ingles, who are both battling knee injuries, while Landale and Josh Green were both named for their first match of the series.

But Landale sent fears through the Boomers when he went down with an ugly injury midway through the first quarter.

Landale appeared to land on the boot of a South Sudanese opponent as he went up for a block from behind.

Those fears appear to have been realised as coach Brian Goorjian said Landale would not travel with the team to Japan tomorrow and would go for an MRI to check the extent of the injury.

Goorjian said he does not expect Landale to be available for the World Cup.

The plan for the Australian Boomers is to head to Japan with the 12-man team they have. Jack White was on the outside looking in on this 13-man squad, according to Brian Goorjian, but will be on the final team going into the World Cup. There's no plan to bring anyone else in. https://t.co/A6q7VymXa6

— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) August 17, 2023

How it started. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

The last thing the Boomers wanted. Photo: Channel 9

Landale had been battling a right ankle injury going into the match, but went over on his left in the incident.

But his ankle went at an awful angle and he immediately left the court, struggling to put any pressure on the ankle.

“That didn’t look good,” Andrew Gaze said in commentary for Channel 9. “He knows he’s in trouble here. He’s not even going for the bench, he’s going directly for the tunnel. He knows he needs to get looked at. Wow.

“Ah, nasty. Nasty.”

Social media was quick to react after the injury as it if it’s serious, it will mean Australia goes into the World Cup without its No. 1 centre, a position where the Boomers struggle for depth.

Back up centre Duop Reath replaced Landale — both of whom are 211cm — for the remainder of the game, while Nick Kay (206cm) and Xavier Cooks (203cm) have also played centre for the Boomers.

ESPN Basketball insider Olgun Uluc wrote: “Jock Landale just turned his left ankle, had trouble putting weight on it as he hobbled immediately to the locker room. He missed the Boomers’ first two warm-up games with an ankle injury (not sure, at this moment, if it’s the same ankle). Notwithstanding: bad news for Australia.”

The Herald Sun’s Michael Randall commented: “Jock Landale has just gone down clutching his ankle. Shocking roll. Hobbled straight down the race. Not good.”

The Age’s Roy Ward posted: “Boomers fans should be concerned about Jock Landale and his ankles but we won’t know more until he’s been scanned, tested. I also think it would be a big call to rule him out unless his injury is severe. I quite like how Cooks, Kay have played in small ball line-ups.”

That ankle injury looked grim for Jock Landale. So much of our medal chances depend on him being healthy and available. Hopefully nothing serious 🙏 #Boomers

— Jack Powell (@JackPowell43) August 17, 2023

Seeing as that wasn’t the previously injured ankle for Landale, fingers crossed it wasn’t as bad as it looked. #GoBoomers

— Andrew French (@AFrenchy91) August 17, 2023

Josh Green as it rained dunks. Photo by Morgan Hancock/Getty Images

It was a physical game with Kay bloodied by an accidental elbow just before halftime, while Jack White appeared to have picked up a wrist complaint.

Outside of the injury concern, the Boomers always kept the South Sudanese at arms length throughout the match.

Matisse Thybulle topscored with 17 points, including scoring five-from-five in his first five attempts from three point range.

Josh Giddey also scored six points, nine assists, four rebounds while Dante Exum added six points, seven assists.

Reath also dropped 15 points.

The Boomers still have two matches before the start of the FIBA World Cup with warm ups in Japan against France and Georgia.

Australia’s first match of the World Cup will be against World No. 24 Finland on Friday August 25.