Veteran point guard Mark Dickel will miss the test series against Venezuela but is determined to join the New Zealand basketball team for next month's Olympic qualifying series against Australia.
Dickel, 30, had surgery on his back in February and it hasn't healed sufficiently to allow him to
play in the tests in Napier tomorrow and in Wellington on Sunday and Tuesday.
Though he is still undergoing a rehabilitation programme, he is eager to join the Tall Blacks for their qualifying Oceania Championship - a three-match series in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane (August 20-24).
"I feel really bad that I can't be with the team right now, but my back is just starting to feel healthy again," he said. "I should be ready to play very soon."
Dickel knows New Zealand stand a good chance of beating an Australian side without four leading players - NBA star Andrew Bogut, veteran forward Matt Nielsen, point guard C.J. Bruton and centre Chris Anstey.
"I want to help the Tall Blacks any way I can, even if I'm just coming off the bench for a few minutes," he said.
His father Carl is assisting national coach Nenad Vucinic.
Vucinic, however, has ample cover for Dickel in his 14-man squad, which includes point guards Paul Henare, Lindsay Tait and rookie Mike Fitchett.
"Players arriving late present a big challenge in terms of implementing systems," Vucinic said.
"But the fact someone is not here for this particular series is not a worry to me. We want everyone to be there for the Australian series."
The other player yet to join the Tall Blacks is NBA prospect Craig Bradshaw, who is playing in the Rocky Mountain Revue with the Atlanta Hawks.
Point guard Mike Fitchett, a hero of Nelson's NBL win, will make his debut against Venezuela. He is the only new cap in the side.
North Harbour forward Daryl Cartwright earns a recall after four years' absence while Auckland point guard Lindsay Tait also returns after missing last year's world championships with a broken wrist.
Meanwhile, Venezuela will be without three big names - guard Oscar Torres, 30, forward Victor Diaz, 39, and centre Richard Lugo, 34. They are replaced with younger players for the New Zealand trip.
- NZPA
