Omri Casspi suffers a knee injury; May miss FIBA EuroBasket – NBA Update
Omri Casspi’s participation in the upcoming EuroBasket tournament is in doubt after the 23 year old pulled up with a knee injury which was first reported to be a muscle problem. His absence, if confirmed, would be a serious blow
to Israel’s chances in the EuroBasket which are already slim and heavily dependent on the player in question.
Casspi was not upbeat after the injury and appeared to take a cautionary approach,
“The knee is not something you play around with,’ Casspi said, ‘I will not play again until I know I’m 100% capable.”
“I’m not sure if I will play in the EuroBasket. It’s too early to decide now, but I feel horrible pains and can barley move. I will need around six weeks to recuperate, two of those playing no basketball at all and then the doctors
will check my knee again,” Casspi added.
The player’s cautionary stance makes sense in the light of the NBA lockout. During the lockout caused due to a dispute over a new CBA, NBA players are not the responsibility of NBA franchises. This means Casspi’s medical insurance
provided as part of his NBA contract cannot come into play with regards to his current predicament. The cost of his medical expenses would either have to be borne by the player himself or by the Israeli national team.
If there was no lockout, Casspi would not have had to worry about this issue because the Cleveland Cavaliers would have taken care of the matter. Casspi is contracted to the Cavs after he was traded right before the NBA lockout
by the Sacramento Kings. Former Cavalier J.J. Hickson went in the other direction as part of the trade that saw Cleveland secure the Israeli.
The 6-foot-9 forward averaged just 8.6 points per game and around 4 rebounds playing for the Kings last season, but many, including the player, believe that he wasn’t utilized correctly by his team. Casspi is viewed as a player
with great promise and his shooting in particular is unusually good for a man his size.
Casspi was able to walk by himself after the injury and immediately went to the hospital for an MRI, which is pretty standard procedure. Although the forward has said he will require a healing period of six months, sources with
the Israeli camp suggest the injury is not that serious.
They are hoping Omri is back to train with the side in a couple of days and there is firm belief that he will be match fit before the EuroBasket tournament starts on 31 August in Lithuania.
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