When Andrew Bogut crashed to the court last week in a sickening fall that broke his right arm, the Milwaukee Bucks' plans for a deep playoff run took a huge hit. Losing the big Australian's career-bests in points per game (15.9) and blocks per game (2.5) - as well as his impressive 10.2 rebounds per game - has put a dampener on what's been a tremendous, overachieving season for the small market franchise.

But thousands of miles from Milwaukee, Bogut's injury has even bigger repercussions, since it will affect the Boomers' preparations for August's World Championships.

"The chances of his availability have greatly decreased," Boomers coach Brett Brown told backpagelead.com.au, in perhaps what qualifies as the understatement of the year.

Bogut was never a certainty to play in the world titles anyway, considering his dodgy back and the fact that the Bucks made it clear that they didn't want him to take part. Still, the big kid from suburban Melbourne has been a willing participant when his country has called, so there's a slight chance he could put in an appearance.

Bogut, of course, is the Boomers' best player. And more importantly, he is the rare high-profile Australian basketballer who creates interest beyond the hardcore hoops media. Whenever he comes to Australia, Bogut is a highly sought-after interview. His stellar season has been noticed worldwide, and his profile has been boosted by a growing presence on Twitter. He has nearly 20,000 followers and his recent Tweets on Australia becoming a so-called "nanny state" warranted a big follow-up story in the Herald Sun.

This makes it all the more worrying that he may not be playing with the Boomers. See, Australian basketball needs some Bogut face time. One of the things the new Basketball Australia regime is banking on is the international success of the Boomers a la the Socceroos. That's difficult to do if Bogut - the closest thing basketball has to Tim Cahill - is in a windcheater rather than a singlet.

Brown, whose troops will gather on July 19 for the first camp, is not putting any pressure on Bogut.

"I have a level of respect and appreciation for Andrew and what he's accomplished, as well as what he's going through," Brown said, "So I'm purposely avoiding any sort of concrete time frame."

Even if Bogut does not end up playing, Australia should still be competitive. David Andersen has a year of the NBA under his belt, while Matty Neilsen and Aleks Maric are starring in Europe. Other European-based players like Brad Newley, David Barlow and Joe Ingles are sure to contribute even more this time around. There's Patty Mills, who has been in the NBA, but hasn't seen the court much, and Nathan Jawai, who's been in a similar situation. There are also some reliable NBL players and a host of kids with NCAA college experience.

Still, Bogut leaves a massive hole in the middle if he misses out.

"If Bogut doesn't come, we still stay big," offered Brown. "We've got Andersen, Neilsen and Maric. Structurally there are challenges, because things won't be as clear. Bogut is like (Spurs centre) Tim Duncan, you want everything to go through him on offense."

So the waiting game begins. Only the most optimistic would look at Bogut, with his broken arm, sore back and dubious employer and suggest that he will be suiting up come August. But that's what a lot of basketball in this country is built on at the moment - optimism.