5 Aug 2015

Boomers may be missing NBA star

11:54 am on 5 August 2015

Australia's Utah Jazz star Dante Exum could miss the upcoming Olympic qualifying series against New Zealand starting in 10 days, after injuring his knee in a warm-up match.

The Australian Boomers' Utah Jazz star Dante Exum

Boomers star Dante Exum Photo: Photosport

The 20-year-old guard went down during the Boomers' 66-51 win over Slovenia in Ljubljana on Wednesday morning, their fourth and final tour game.

Exum's left knee buckled as he drove towards the basket, and he collapsed to the floor.

The youngster is set to return to the United States for assessment and treatment.

It seems unlikely that he will suit up for the Boomers' two games against the Tall Blacks, starting on August 15th in Melbourne.

Australia's Dante Exum with the slam dunk during the 2012 Fiba U19 Oceania Championship - Junior Tall Blacks v Australian Emus at Te Rauparaha Arena, Porirua, New Zealand on Thursday 20 September 2012. Photo: Justin Arthur / photosport.co.nz

Dante Exum slam dunks over the Junior Tall Blacks at the 2012 Fiba Under-19 Oceania Championship Photo: Photosport

The Boomers are already without another point guard, Patty Mills, who was left out of the squad for the Oceania Olympic qualifiers as he was unavailable for the European tour.

Australia lost their first two games against Lithuania, as well as their opening clash with Slovenia.

The rest of the Boomers are expected to return to Melbourne on Friday.

Australia will have NBA players Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova for the series against New Zealand.

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