Bogut underwent x-ray on Monday which revealed blow.
Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut has suffered a fractured right rib which could keep him out of the start of the playoffs, with fears he may miss the entire post-season.
Both Bogut and Warriors coach Mark Jackson have said that he is out indefinitely and gave no timetable for return, with his absence likely to be a significant blow for the Western Conference outfit.
The Australian ace was keen to avoid placing a comeback date on the injury, but revealed in a sombre tone in the locker room interview that from the research he has carried out he will not be able to return for at least six weeks in order to give the rib time to fully heal.
“I’ve got to be careful, because if it cracks I’m looking at a punctured lung. You’ll see me in the hospital with a tube coming out of me,” Bogut said, as reported by ESPN.
“It’s one of those things people have played through, but this is too close to comfort for me.”
Bogut revealed that he believes he suffered the initial knock through an elbow from Denver Nuggets star Kenneth Faried on Thursday, before the symptoms continued against the Los Angeles Lakers on Friday and he was then forced to leave the game against the Portland Trail Blazers on Sunday night.
He conceded that he feels pain every time he coughs or sneezes let alone when he runs and so he will unlikely risk sustaining any further damage by rushing a comeback.
Backup center Jermaine O’Neal started in his place on Monday in the win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, and he will likely continue to deputise along with David Lee and Marreese Speights to cover the loss of Bogut.
Nevertheless, as Jackson conceded, it “certainly doesn’t make us a better basketball team” given Bogut’s prowess and importance on the defensive end this season.
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