1 Jun 2012

Injury likely to deny Abercrombie shot at NBA

11:57 am on 1 June 2012

Injury's not only forced Breakers forward Tom Abercrombie out of the New Zealand basketball team's last chance Olympic qualifier, but it's also likely to deny him an opportunity to break into the NBA.

Abercrombie has withdrawn from the Tall Blacks squad for July's Olympic tournament in Venezuela because of an ongoing ankle injury.

It's also all but ended his plan to play in the NBA summer league in July.

Abercrombie suffered the injury during the semi-finals of the Australian National Basketball League but x-rays failed to reveal the chipped bone.

With the injury not healing properly he went for an MRI scan last week, which revealed the problem and he now requires surgery which will keep him off court for up to eight weeks.

The Tall Blacks will assemble in Auckland on June 13th to begin their preparation for the 12-team qualifying tournament, which will determine which nations fill the final three spots in the London draw.