The New Zealand basketballer Sean Marks will miss the start of the NBA season because of injury.
Marks, who is now in his 9th season in the League, injured a calf in an off-season camp with his new club the New Orlean Hornets and then aggrevated it on their pre-season tour of Europe.
He missed all 7 pre-season games, and coach Byron Scott expects him to be available in about a fortnight.
The Hornets, who are one of the favoured teams in this year's competition, open their season against Gold State tomorrow.
Champions the Boston Celtics open the season today against Cleveland.