Injured Bogut out of world titles for Australia

SYDNEY (AP) -- Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut will sit out the world championships for Australia after being ruled out of the tournament due to injuries.

Basketball Australia said Monday that Bogut, who sustained a season-ending injury to his right arm in a game against the Phoenix Suns last month, was forced to withdraw from the Australia squad that will play at the world titles in Turkey beginning in August.

Bogut injured his right arm, elbow and a finger in a fall, interrupting his best season since the Bucks took him with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 NBA draft.

"This has been a tough decision, but given the nature of the injury I sustained a few weeks back I knew at that point that playing at the world championships in 2010 would be doubtful," Bogut said in a statement.

"I am certainly keen to contribute in any way possible to the team's preparations and look forward to working with ... the team as we prepare for 2012 London Olympics."

Bogut missed the NBA playoffs after the April 3 injury. Without him, the Bucks took the Atlanta Hawks to seven games in the first round of the playoffs, losing the final two games with Bogut watching from the sidelines, his right arm in a cast.

He was having a standout season for the resurgent Bucks, averaging 15.9 points and 10.2 rebounds. Nagging injuries have hindered his development during his career.

Australia has been drawn in Group A for the world championships and will open against Jordan on Aug. 28. The team then faces Argentina, Germany, Serbia and Angola on four of the following six days.

All the team's five preliminary-round games will be held in the Turkish city of Kayseri.