Massive blow Boomers as Aussie NBA star is ruled out of Tokyo Olympics after ‘freak bathroom injury’

The Boomers have copped a massive blow to their medal chances after center Aron Baynes suffered a neck injury from a freak bathroom accident.

Baynes, who won an NBA Championship alongside Australian teammate Patty Mills with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014, has been ruled out of the remainder of the Olympic Games after sustaining the injury.

The 6 foot 10 big man slipped on the wet floor of the locker room just before the fourth quarter of the Boomers’ narrow win over Italy.

Head coach Brian Goorjian had initially downplayed the seriousness of Baynes’ condition but he will now be without one of his NBA talents as Australia goes for its first Olympic men’s medal.

‘I am really disappointed that I can’t continue in the Olympics,’ Baynes in a statement Friday.

‘I along with the rest of the team have been working so hard in our quest for an historic Olympic medal and I am gutted that I can’t complete the journey with the boys’, but I have every confidence that they will get the job done’.  

The Boomers have copped a massive blow to their medal chances after center Aron Baynes suffered a neck injury from a freak bathroom accident

Baynes slipped on the wet floor of the locker room before the fourth quarter of Australia’s game against Italy – suffering the injury which will rule him out for the rest of the Olympics

The Boomers confirmed the news on Friday morning, with coach Goorjian saying the team is ‘hurting’ for the Toronto Raptors center. 

‘Aron is a big part of our team and we are all hurting for him, but we have great depth in our squad and I have every confidence the 11 remaining players,’ he said.

 We will all stay focused on the task ahead,’ said Goorjian. ‘Unfortunately, injuries can happen but this team is resilient and we will adapt’.

Boomers captain and Australia’s Olympic flagbearer Mills echoed his coach’s message, saying the team will have ‘Baynsey’s back’. 

‘It’s a tough loss for us. His presence on the floor and physical play has been a big part of our identity for so long and that will be missed, but it doesn’t change our focus and how we go about our business and what we have come to achieve,’ the Spurs point guard said.

Boomers captain and Australia’s Olympic flagbearer Mills said the team will miss the Raptors center but the goal is still to medal in Tokyo

‘We have always spoken about how important each player’s role is, and the impact it can have for the better of our group because of our depth. That doesn’t change. We’ve got Baynsey’s back. We’ll cover for him.

‘I have every confidence in this playing group and our focus will not waiver as we strive for that Olympic gold medal.’     

The Boomers are two from two in their opening games at the Tokyo Olympics, beating Nigeria and Italy.

Their next game is against Germany on Saturday as they look to cement their place in the knockout stages.