Boomers basketball: Aussie NBA star Dante Exum may miss FIBA Oceania series against New Zealand over knee injury

Australian Boomers guard Dante Exum may miss the FIBA Oceania Championship after suffering a knee injury during Australia’s tune-up game against Slovenia on Wednesday. Boomers snapped a three-game losing streak after defeating the Slovenians 66-51, ending the team’s European tour in a good note. However, it was a costly victory for Australia after Exum went down, making him indefinite for Boomers’ international campaign.

Exum, who is on his second year with NBA team Utah Jazz, collapsed in the second quarter of the international friendly after his left knee buckled in a non-contact play. The Utah Jazz guard needed help to leave the court and did not return to the game. The youngster went back to Australia’s bench in the fourth period with his knee strapped and on crutches. Utah Jazz PR released a statement on its Twitter account, saying Exum will head to Utah for further medical evaluation.

The following is a medical update on @utahjazz guard Danté Exum: pic.twitter.com/5rFMPx4dJU
— Utah Jazz PR (@UtahJazzPR) August 4, 2015

The incident was Exum’s second injury this summer, after spraining his ankle in Utah Jazz’s first game of the NBA Summer League last month. The 6-foot-5 point guard has shown potential in his first international competition with the Boomers and has been an integral part of coach Andrej Lemanis’ squad.

With uncertainty over Exum’s appearance against the Tall Blacks, Lemanis and his coaching staff will make necessary adjustments to the team’s playing rotations, reports Basketball Australia. According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Australia may tap Hugh Greenwood or Mitch McCarron as a replacement for Exum if the Jazz sophomore deemed unfit to play against the Tall Blacks. Greenwood and McCarron both played for the Emerging Boomers in the World University Games.

Australia has been preparing for the FIBA Oceania Championship, a two game series against New Zealand on Aug. 15 in Melbourne, and on Aug. 18 in Wellington. The winner will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.