South East Melbourne star Ryan Broekhoff has quashed speculation he was planning to retire at season’s finish.
And the gun ahead says he’s an enormous probability to swimsuit up for the Phoenix in subsequent week’s play-in sport as he races the clock to get better from the January 22 adductor damage he suffered towards Perth.
There was some suggestion in basketball circles this week the 32-year-old, who’s out of contract at season’s finish, might need been contemplating retirement, given his new off-court curiosity in a Hoops City franchise with fellow former Boomer David Andersen and spouse Katie anticipating child No.2.
“I’ve got no plans to retire,” Broekhoff confirmed to New Corp.
“I do have something going on with Dave Andersen with a Hoops City franchise, but no, I don’t know where this rumour has come from.
“I’m focusing on getting back and finishing the season right now and maybe it’s just because I’m out of contract at the end of the season.
“That might be just what has sparked it all.”
Broekhoff mentioned he’d held preliminary talks with the membership about staying on for NBL24 however that was secondary to reaching full health for subsequent week’s sudden-death eliminator.
“Both sides were just like ‘let’s go through the season and see how everything goes’ and I’m sure once finals are done and dusted we’ll approach that (his contract),” Broekhoff mentioned.
“That’s the last thing the club or myself want to be focusing on. It’s more ‘let’s worry about getting back on the court, let’s get healthy, let’s help the team’.
“I’m starting to do some running and some different things on the court away from the team and the recovery’s been going pretty well so I’m optimistic and hopeful.”
The 32-year-old is a hugely-popular determine in Melbourne’s south east Heartland however has struggled to persistently keep on the courtroom in his three seasons with the Phoenix.
South East Melbourne boss Tommy Greer mentioned the membership was assured of re-signing the previous Dallas Maverick within the low season.
“We absolutely want him back next year and we’re confident of getting something done but we’ll start that conversation at the end of the season,” Greer informed News Corp.
“We love him and we feel like he’s been a huge part of our club for the past three years and we want to keep building with him.”
The Phoenix face a weekend of uncertainty as they await the outcomes of Sunday’s Melbourne United and Perth video games, which is able to decide who they may face in subsequent week’s play-in, set to be on both Wednesday or Thursday.
Originally printed as NBL news 2023: Latest news and occurring within the Australian league forward of the ultimate spherical of the season
Source: www.news.com.au
