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| Domantas Sabonis has been ruled out of the FIBA World Cup after undergoing surgery on his fractured thumb. Getty Images (file photo) |
MANILA--Domantas Sabonis will not play for Lithuania in the FIBA World Cup this August.
This after FIBA officially released the world #8th-ranked squad’s 15-man training pool on Wednesday night.
Lithuania is grouped with Mexico, Montenegro, and Egypt in Group D whose games are set to be played at the MOA Arena.
Sabonis, who recently led the Sacramento Kings to their first NBA playoff appearance after 16 years, will miss the tournament after undergoing a surgery on his right thumb.
Lithuanian national team head coach Kazys Maksvytis confirmed the news of the star big man’s absence to play for his national team this summer and vows to be available next time round.
“He tried to recover without the surgery, but it didn't work, and he lost time. After the surgery, everything takes longer. He apologized for not coming and promised to be available next summer,” Maksvytis said.
With Sabonis’ impending absence, Lithuania will now lean on New Orleans Pelicans center Jonas Valanciunas.
Also helping Lithuania’s cause are former NBA players Donatas Motiejunas (Houston Rockets); Ignas Brazdeikis and Mindaugas Kuzminskas (New York Knicks) and 34th pick of the 2021 NBA draft Rokus Jokubaitis (FC Barcelona).
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