Basketball: Injury can't keep him down

Tom Abercrombie. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Tom Abercrombie has been playing the past three months with bone chips floating around his right ankle but insists it will not hamper the Breakers' pursuit of a first Australian NBL title.

The 23-year-old swingman landed awkwardly on the ankle just before Christmas and has navigated his way through the rest of the season. It hasn't affected his game time - he's averaging 24 minutes a game this season compared to 20 last term - and it's a matter of managing the injury for the rest of the season. He might need off-season surgery.

"There are just a couple of little bits floating around [the ankle] that aren't supposed to be there," he says.

"It's a pretty minor thing and it's not affecting me too much. I landed on it a weird way and it puffed up the next day. Ankles are a tricky one because there's always a chance of coming down on someone's foot.

"It's not a major problem. I can play all the time. It's just about making sure I ice it after training and playing and doing the proper rehab."

The Breakers will need Abercrombie in the coming weeks. Although he has been a little off-colour in recent times, much like the rest of the Breakers, he's an integral member of the side and his athleticism, rebounding and outside shooting make him a dangerous player. This season he's averaged 9.7 points a game, 5.5 rebounds and 1.6 assists and shoots the ball at 44.3 per cent.

It's why European and American clubs are keeping tabs on a player who caught the eye at last year's world championships. Abercrombie has one year left on his Breakers contract but has an out-clause which allows him to leave to play in Europe or the NBA.

"Nothing is set in stone yet," he says. "I will sit down after the season and weigh up all my options. There will be some options.

"I have talked about possibly going to Europe and testing myself over there but coming back to the Breakers is also a very attractive option as well. The dream would be to play somewhere nice like Spain or Italy but that's not always the case. They have to want you.

"It's a good feeling to be wanted. To have options is where I want to be. But they are pretty big decisions and I haven't made any of them."

The probability of an NBA lockout - a players' strike while a new collective agreement is worked out - could have an impact on his plans.

It could mean more American players flood the European market, putting a squeeze on players like Abercrombie, but he has the security of a Breakers contract in the bank.

While Abercrombie's numbers are good, he's not entirely satisfied with his own form. He's had days when the ball drops but others, like the home defeat of Townsville when he made just one of eight attempts for a return of three points, when it's been a struggle.

"It's been a bit up and down," he says of his own form. "Not as consistent as I would have liked. For the most part I've been happy because we've been winning. As long as the team are successful.

"I have had games where I have played really well and then come out the next one and let my shooting dictate the way I play. You can't do that. If you're having a good shooting night or a bad one you have to maintain the confidence because your team-mates expect you to shoot the ball when you're open."

It's why he spends countless hours with a machine called The Gun. It collects his shots into a big net and spews out balls for him to shoot in metronomic fashion.

Invariably they go in. The Breakers need that to happen on game day... and for his ankle to hold up.