Otago Nuggets captain Mark Dickel has been ruled out for the season with a knee injury.
The Tall Blacks point guard injured his left knee in the 82-72 loss to the Hawkes Bay Hawks at the Edgar Centre on Friday night.
When the Otago Daily Times spoke to him earlier in the day he was upbeat about his prospects of returning to the court in a week or so, but a scan revealed torn cartilage.
"Obviously, I'm bitterly disappointed for myself personally and for the team," Dickel said late last night.
"But what can you do?
"I took a knock on the side of the knee and there are not enough days left in the season for it to come right.
"It is just another one of life's challenges."
The Nuggets' floor general was in a positive frame of mind earlier and had hoped to return in time for the Nuggets' home double-header against the Taranaki Mountain Airs and the Nelson Giants on April 28 and 29.
"I'm pretty sure luck will be on my side and I'll be good to go in a week or 10 days or so."
The Nuggets (3-5) will have to find a way to win without Dickel.
His back-up, James Ross, is still a work in progress and the back-up to the back-up, Hayden Miller, is still making his way back from a shoulder injury.
Dickel, who is employed by Basketball Otago to help promote and develop the game at the grassroots level, said he would remain with the team and try to contribute where he can.
"Nothing changes, I just won't be playing, that is all."
