Rio Olympics: Andrew Bogut all but rules himself out for Boomers

ANDREW Bogut has all but ruled himself out of the Olympics, saying the bone bruises around his left knee almost certainly will not be healed in time for Rio.

Andrew Bogut #12 of the Golden State Warriors holds his knee in pain after sustaining an injury during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA.

A DEVASTATED Andrew Bogut says he will need a miracle to overcome a knee injury and play in the Olympics, describing himself as “highly unlikely” to suit up for the Boomers in Brazil.

The veteran Australian centre has not ruled himself out, but did not offer much hope of being fit to help the Boomers in their campaign to win their first medal.

Golden State Warriors medical staff say he will need six to eight weeks to recover from the left knee bone bruises suffered in a collision in Monday’s NBA Finals game five against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Australia plays its first Olympic game on August 6, about eight weeks away, but Bogut was pessimistic about his chances of being ready and said it would not be fair to the team and coaches for them to wait for him.

“I’m not great at maths, but six to eight weeks minimum is what I’ve been told, so it is very unlikely at this point, to be honest,” Bogut told reporters in Cleveland ahead of the Warriors’ game six clash with the Cavaliers.

“We are going to re-evaluate it in a month and if a miracle happens and it feels great in a month and I can get back on the court, we’ll see.

“But as of now it’s not looking good.” Bogut said he heard his knee crack when Cavaliers guard JR Smith crashed into him and he initially thought he “blew out” his knee and would need surgery.

“I heard two cracks — that’s the bone on bone,” Bogut said. “It’s not worth much, but it could have been worse than it is, but it’s still pretty bad.”

Andrew Bogut is assisted off the court after sustaining an injury during the third quarter against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 5 of the 2016 NBA Finals.

Smith has defended his role in the incident, telling reporters Bogut went to block his shot and then he protected himself as he crashed into the Australian.

“It’s a basketball play,” Smith said.

“It’s not like I’m out there trying to take his legs out.” Bogut, when asked if he thought it was a basketball play, declined to back Smith’s take on the incident, saying “I don’t know” three times before offering: “It’s up for interpretation.” “Somehow he cannonballed right into my shin with his shoulder,” Bogut said.

The Warriors will claim back-to-back NBA championships if they beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland on Thursday (Friday 11am AEST). The Warriors lead the series 3-2, but if the Cavaliers are victorious on Thursday the title will be decided with a game seven on Sunday (Monday AEST) in Oakland.

The Australian men’s Olympic team has never won medal, but the squad had high expectations FOR Rio with the best credentialed Boomers’ squad in history.

The team would have had a starting five of NBA players, with Bogut at centre, Aron Baynes and Joe Ingles as forwards and Matthew Dellavedova and Patty Mills in the back-court.

The squad also has Chicago Bulls forward Cameron and guard Dante Exum, who is recovering from a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee.

Originally published as Rio Olympics: Andrew Bogut all but rules himself out for Boomers