NBL injury news 2024: South East Melbourne star Alan Williams ruled out for season

Injury-ravaged South East Melbourne’s season was already on life support, but news surgery will end one of its star’s 2023-24 campaign might have killed off any hope of an NBL miracle.

South East Melbourne’s faint hopes of keeping its injury-cursed season alive have been dealt a hammer blow with confirmation star import Alan Williams will have season-ending surgery.

The 30-year-old former NBA big man will go under the knife next week in a bid to alleviate the right knee pain he has been suffering since he copped a knock against Brisbane on December 30.

The injury kept Williams out of losses to Illawarra and Adelaide, either side of a 12-point, 10-rebound double-double against Perth, where he was noticeably fighting against his body. It is unrelated to the left knee complaint that delayed his start to NBL23.

Big Sauce, at Tuesday’s practice session, was in the hands of Phoenix team doctor Peter Harcourt before he was officially ruled out of the next night’s clash with the 36ers.

It was then decided surgery was the best course of action.

South East Melbourne Phoenix star Alan Williams will undergo knee surgery and miss the rest of the season. Picture: Getty Images

Phoenix head of high performance Eric Hollingsworth said the star centre would have an exploratory meniscectomy — which could involve the removal of part or all of the meniscus — on Monday.

“Alan will undergo this surgery in hopes of him returning to full fitness after a tough few weeks where he has played and trained under duress,” Hollingsworth said.

“Alan will remain an integral part of the group during his rehab period as a vocal leader in the team as we aim for a playoff berth at the back end of this season.”

Without the 203cm Arizona native, an already unlikely playoff berth appears even further away, given the Phoenix have lost seven of their past eight games and could tumble to last on the ladder if, on Saturday, they fall to New Zealand and Adelaide topples Illawarra.

Williams’ hulking frame and offensive gifts put him among the NBL’s premier big men and his glowing smile and gregarious demeanour have quickly made him one of the most-loved imports ever to grace the league.

Big Sauce is a fan favourite in South East Melbourne. Picture: Getty Images

But his season has been wrecked by knee issues. Williams missed the pre-season Blitz and first six games of NBL23 after a knock to the opposite knee during practice that required surgery.

Williams has previously gone under the knife to repair both knees. In 2017, while with Phoenix Suns in the NBA, he suffered a partially torn right meniscus and, in 2020 at Russian club Lokomotiv, he ruptured his left patella.

Williams played 15 games in NBL23, averaging 16.7 points and a league-leading 10.9 rebounds. He is contracted to South East Melbourne next season.

Monstrous development player Anzac Rissetto will be elevated to the main roster in Williams’ absence and the Phoenix will now lean heavily on Gorjok Gak, who is coming off his best game for the club — 12 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks against Adelaide

***New Zealand Breakers v SEM Phoenix, Saturday, 5.30pm AEDT, Spark Arena, Auckland, watch on Kayo Sports and ESPN.

TRAVERS SPEAKS ON INJURY, DEPLETED UNITED

Luke Travers is playing through the pain to continue to bring his versatile skill set to the floor for Melbourne United as the NBL ladder leader deals with the absence of two of its best players.

Both Jo Lual-Acuil Jr (undisclosed personal) and Shea Ili (concussion) will miss a second consecutive game on United’s trip to Tasmania but Travers, who sported heavy strapping on much of his right lower leg at Wednesday’s practice, is toughing it out with a “sore spot” in his shin.

Luke Travers sported heavy strapping on his leg.

“I’ve played through a lot of things in my basketball career, so this is another one and it’s not too bad at all,” Travers said of his ailment.

“Shili and Jo are going to miss this one, so we’re going to … support them and whether we get them back the next week or the week after, we’re always going to be that next-man-up mentality, which I think we’ve done a good job of all season.”

After missing the first two games of 2024, Travers returned against New Zealand, coming off the bench for the first time since his off-season move from Perth to United – behind fellow Western Australian and good mate, Kyle Bowen.

That looks to be a one off, with the 200cm playmaking forward training with the starters on Wednesday, including giant Next Star Ariel Hukporti, who caused a shudder at practice when he copped an accidental knock to the mouth from young development player Tom Koppens.

Without Lual-Acuil Jr, United could ill-afford to lose Hukporti, who started in last week’s one-point win over the Breakers and played a career-high 32 minutes, finishing with 12 points, five rebounds and three stocks as he continues to build toward this year’s NBA draft.

Fortunately, the 21-year-old has had some dental work to fix his smile after part of a tooth was broken and he has been given the all clear to do battle with former United big man Marcus Lee and Tassie’s in-form centre Will Magnay.

It will be United’s fifth game in a row on the road, with two more to come before February 3’s John Cain Arena return against ailing cross-town rival South East Melbourne.

Travers said his side had done a good job of navigating the “make or break” extended away stretch – brought about every season by the Australian Open’s occupation of John Cain Arena and the wider sporting precinct – raiding clubs for three wins from the past four starts.

***Melbourne United v Tasmania JackJumpers, Friday, January 19, 7.30pm AEDT, MyState Bank Arena, watch on Kayo and ESPN.

Originally published as NBL injury news 2024: South East Melbourne star Alan Williams ruled out for season