Basketball: Eye injury sidelines Marks for rest of world champs

7.45am

Sean Marks will probably miss the remainder of the Tall Blacks' world championship campaign after suffering an injury to his right eye.

The 2.1m starting centre, the first New Zealander to play in the National Basketball Association, sustained the injury during the third quarter of yesterday's 85-112 loss to Argentina in New Zealand's final pool match in Indianapolis. He was treated courtside and Marks returned to the game briefly in the fourth quarter.

After the game, the NBA Indiana Pacers eye specialist found a scratch on the iris and some bleeding. Marks will be re-examined later today, but he is not expected to play again at this tournament.

Because the injury occurred during the event, he cannot be replaced on the Tall Blacks roster.

"Sean is devastated," coach Tab Baldwin said. "The players thoughts are with him, but we"ll battle on."

The Tall Blacks have a rest day today and begin second-round play tomorrow morning (New Zealand time) with a match against Germany, followed by games against the United States and China later in the week.

Former Tall Blacks coach Keith Mair, who has paid his own way to Indianapolis to watch the world championships, said Marks' injury was serious and he would definitely be out for the rest of the tournament.

"It's a huge setback and absolutely shattering for Sean himself who has been in outstanding form," Mair told National Radio this morning from the US.

"It's a major injury, he's out for the tournament. He is confined to the hotel for the next five days, he's getting specialist treatment from the Indiana Pacers eye specialist but it's a tragedy for Sean and a setback for the team."

Mair said the Tall Blacks had shown the ability in the past to win without Marks -- against Australia and China last year -- but his commanding presence in Indianapolis had been a major factor in the team's success in advancing to the second round.

"He's been one of the outstanding players of the tournament."

"He's shown his class, he's shown that he's a genuine NBA player -- blocking shots, his offensive rebound has been magnificent, his shooting's in sync, he's had some of the most spectacular plays we've seen -- just a tremendous team man playing well and it's not something anybody would have liked to have seen happen."

- NZPA

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