Injured: Nathan Herbert in action for Geelong Supercats.
Erin Pearson
A KNEE injury will keep Supercats star Nathan Herbert off the basketball court until late next year, he has revealed.
The success story of South East Australian and Australia’s national basketball leagues said he ruptured an anterior cruciate ligament during a pre-season match with the Adelaide 36ers in South Australia.
Herbert was aiming for a “slow and steady” recovery following surgery on the injury in late September.
A shattered Herbert said the damage was “clean” but surgeons have revealed he would remain sidelined until “at least next July”.
“They expect I’ll be back after my honeymoon, which will be in the second half of the year,” he said.
“At the moment I’m just trying to stay positive.”
Herbert, who plays for both the 36ers and Geelong Supercats, said his recuperation focus was now on reducing swelling in the knee while maintaining light weights work.
“Right after surgery was the hardest part so far because there wasn’t a lot I could do with the team,” he said.
“Eventually, once the first few months are over, I’ll hopefully be able to move more freely.”
A member of the 2010 SEABL championship side, the 26-year-old forward has been a part of the Supercats team for eight seasons.
He joined South Dragons national team in 2008 as a development player before moving to the Adelaide 36ers in 2009.
He continues to play in both the SEABL and NBL competitions.
Other NBA outfits Cairns Taipans, Sydney Kings and Wollongong Hawks have also been plagued with knee injuries, all with players sidelined.
