NZ Breakers forward Finn Delany will miss this weekend's doubleheader against the Perth Wildcats and also upcoming World Cup qualifiers for the Tall Blacks.
The 22-year-old suffered a knee injury during training this week and following specialist advice, he will sit out the next two weeks to prevent further damage.
He'll miss the two games against Jordan on November 29 in Christchurch and against Syria on December 2 in Wellington, with Tom Vodanovich called into the national side for the first time.
"This is a blow for us and for Finn, but right now, the priority has to be for him to seek further treatment and get healthy," said coach Paul Henare.
"He is a player that brings a great deal of experience to our group, despite being young in years, and I know he is always keen to pull on that black singlet.
"Someone's bad news, however, inevitably leads to good news for another player and in this case I am delighted to call up Tom Vodanovich to the Tall Blacks for the first time.
"Tom is a player that has progressed through the NBL and into the New Zealand Select team, where he was a standout performer on our tour of China earlier this year."
Vodanovich returned home to Wellington in July 2017, after four years playing division one college basketball in the United States for James Madison University in Virginia.
He was immediately signed to the Southland Sharks for 2018 and helped the team win the 2018 NBL title. He was also part of the four-man New Zealand squad that won silver at the FIBA 3x3 Asia Cup in Mongolia last year.
This year, Vodanovich became part of the Breakers Development squad.
If the Tall Blacks win their next two games, they will qualify for the 2019 FIBA World Cup in China.
Delaney will be reassessed for game fitness before the Breakers' next home game on December 9 against the Sydney Kings at Spark Arena.
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