and now out for 6-8 weeks with a lower leg injury
St. Francis - Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut suffered a ligament tear in his lower left leg during the team's scrimmage on Saturday and will be sidelined for six to eight weeks, the team announced today.
The 21-year-old Bogut was evaluated by team doctor John Heinrich on Sunday. Bogut will undergo rehabilitation for the injury.
Bogut relied on a pair of crutches as he watched the Bucks' practice session on Monday, and he wore a protective boot on his left foot.
"The doctors really didn't know what it was until I had the MRI yesterday, and they found a lot of swelling on the ligament," Bogut said. "I'm hopeful I can be back quicker, but it's going to be up to how I heal."
No surgery is planned, but Bogut said he expects to wear the boot for two weeks.
"It's obviously disappointing," Bogut said. "It went from 1 1/2 weeks to 2 weeks to 6 to 8. You definitely get frustrated with it.
"But I can't really dwell on it. In a way, it could be a blessing. It could give me a rest after playing in the World Championships. To look at it in a positive way, I can get my legs back under me and look forward to having a healthy season once it gets better."
Bogut limped off the court in the third quarter of the scrimmage on Saturday after banging his leg against the leg of Bucks guard Steve Blake. The 7-foot center blamed himself for coming out a bit late, and he was in great pain after colliding with Blake.
"I got kneed in the same spot twice in a week," Bogut said. "The second time when I got kneed it twisted the bottom of my leg. It wasn't anything to do with fatigue or anything like that.
"I came out late on a ball screen, and Steve Blake already was going full speed. So when he hit me, it hit the same spot, so it bruised and swelled up. That made my leg go dead, so I didn't feel the twist in the bottom part of my shin."
Bogut said he endured plenty of pain during the past weekend.
"The last 48 hours have been very painful," Bogut said. "Even lying down, it's throbbing. We've been doing icing. I can't get it massaged, because they don't want to touch the area. Hopefully, in another 48 hours, they should be able to treat it better. At the moment, all they can do is put ice on it."
If Bogut is out six to eight weeks, it's possible he could miss the first month of the season. Dan Gadzuric and Brian Skinner are expected to play more minutes with Bogut on the sidelines.
http://www.jsonline.com/watch/?watch=1&date=10/9/2006&id=12524
