Boomers World Cup: Ankle injury rules Jock Landale out of tournament

The Boomers’ World Cup medal hopes have been rocked by an injury to star big man Jock Landale, leaving Australia dangerously undersized. Here’s what he said to his teammates.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – AUGUST 17: Jock Landale of Australia drives to the basket during the match between the Australian Boomers and South Sudan at Rod Laver Arena on August 17, 2023 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Kelly Defina/Getty Images)

The Boomers’ World Cup squad jetted off for Japan on Friday without one of their most important players, a shattered Jock Landale sending his wishes after suffering a horrible ankle injury.

Landale, whose prep had been interrupted by a right ankle complaint, went over on his left ankle five minutes into the Boomers’ Thursday night warm up win over South Sudan in Melbourne.

“My MRI results are back and I’Il be good as gold. Nothing too serious, just gonna need a bit of time on this one. See you in a Houston Rockets jersey soon and a Boomers one come Paris 2024.”

Code Sports has been told veterans Patty Mills and Joe Ingles will share the captaincy at the tournament.

While dealing with the shock of what looms as an end to his World Cup campaign before it began, Landale directed his support to his teammates.

Focus turns to supporting them how I can and preparing for this season with the @HoustonRocketshttps://t.co/F8azgmeW2t

— Jock Landale (@LandaleJock) August 18, 2023

“Sitting here this morning knowing the Boomers are about to take off to Japan and I’m absolutely kicking myself I’m not right there beside them,” Landale tweeted.

“All the build up and preparation we go through as athletes just to have it yanked away 12 hours beforehand sucks.

“Focus turns to supporting them how I can and preparing for this season with the @HoustonRockets.”

Jock Landale was a late scratching from the Boomers squad for the World Cup. Picture: Getty Images

Former Melbourne United teammate and Sports International Group stablemate Jack White was handed a reprieve after Landale’s injury shock.

It means the already undersized Boomers will go into the tournament with only one recognised centre — Duop Reath, who emerged across the three Rod Laver Arena games as a viable pick n roll partner for star point guard Josh Giddey, averaging 17 points per contest.

Expect Xavier Cooks and Nick Kay to spend time at the five when he rests.

“I think the blueprint’s becoming clearer, offensively and defensively, on what we need to do when we get there, to win,” coach Brian Goorjian offered after the game.

“It was pretty cloudy coming into these three games, but it’s clearer now.”

Goorjian said injured Melbourne United sharpshooter Chris Goulding could have played on Thursday night, but the Boomers were being extra cautious with his knee injury and expect him to play in two scheduled pre-tournament games in Japan.

Jack White earned a late call up to the World Cup team. Picture: AFP

Landale has made a habit betting on himself throughout his career, going undrafted out of St Mary’s spending time in Europe before a monster NBL championship season at Melbourne United helped him reach the NBA.

After stints with San Antonio and Phoenix, Landale signed a four-year, $50 million (US$32 million) deal with the Rockets, only the first of which is guaranteed.

Landale had scans in Melbourne on Friday, with the results still to be released.

The Boomers play a warm-up game against France on Sunday at their first stop in Tokyo, before a flight to Okinawa where they will play Georgia.

The World Cup-proper begins Friday against Finland.

BOOMERS FINAL WORLD CUP SQUAD

Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green

Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Patty Mills, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White

Originally published as Boomers World Cup: Ankle injury rules Jock Landale out of tournament