The New Zealand men's basketball hopes of qualifying for the London Olympics may be indirectly boosted by the NBA lockout.
The Australian centre and Milwaukee Bucks player Andrew Bogut is unlikely to take part in the September's Oceania champships which doubles as the Olympic Games qualifying tournament.
The NBA has gone into lockout with team owners and the players union unable to agree on a new collective bargaining agreement.
As a result of the NBA lockout, the players are no longer entitled to many benefits, including the NBA's insurance cover, which Basketball Australia would use to insure Bogut for any international games.
That means Bogut won't be back playing for Australia until lockout is resolved.
