Aron Baynes might be man to replace injured Andrew Bogut at Rio Olympics

AUSTRALIAN Boomers big man Aron Baynes says he is ready to shoulder the load should superstar and fellow NBA player Andrew Bogut miss the Rio Olympics.

Aron Baynes blocks Dwyane Wade. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

AUSTRALIAN Boomers big man Aron Baynes says he is ready to shoulder the load should superstar and fellow NBA player Andrew Bogut miss the Rio Olympics.

Bogut recently said he is at long odds to be fit for Rio after suffering a knee injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals.

Baynes will be the Boomers’ main man in the middle should Bogut be ruled out, which was also the case at the World Cup in 2014.

“I know what has gotten me to this point and what is expected of me with this group of guys,” Baynes said

“I’m just going to go out there and do the same thing; I’m not going to try and step outside of what has got me to this point.

“We have some great talent here; it is just a matter of playing together and being cohesive.”

Baynes is in Australia for the NBA Basketball Without Borders camp before joining the Boomers’ camp in just over a week.

The Detroit Pistons centre said the Boomers had not given up on Bogut being there at Rio.

Andrew Bogut’s injury in Game 5 of the NBA Finals will likely hit the Boomers hard. Picture: Getty Images

“It’s unfortunate and he’s definitely a big piece of the puzzle,” Baynes said.

“We’ll go into camp with the hope he’s still able to be a part of the team.

“We’ll see how it goes, but at the same time it won’t change any of our preparation.

“We have a goal and a group of guys that know what they want to do.”

Knowing the importance of his own role, Baynes has vowed to bring his trademark aggression and physicality with him to Rio.

“I think I take that same mindset with me every time I step onto the court,” he said.

“There’s only one way to play and I have to put everything in each time I step on the court.

“That’s what I try and do and that’s what I’ll do this time.”

The potential loss of Bogut follows Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum’s decision to skip Rio as he comes back from a serious knee injury.

Although, Exum has pledged his future to the Boomers and Olympic campaigns in the future.

“I’ve always wanted to play Olympics and it hurts me not to be able to play this one,” Exum said.

“But we’re definitely going to be really good going into 2020.”

Originally published as Aron Baynes might be man to replace injured Andrew Bogut at Rio Olympics