Ian Mahinmi says shoulder injury 'not as bad as everybody thought'
The Indiana Pacers may have avoided another international basketball-related injury incident.
French center Ian Mahinmi was removed from the FIBA World Cup last week due to a shoulder injury suffered while training with the national team. It was originally suspected that the Pacers reserve could miss up to three months, but Mahinmi downplayed the severity of the ailment on Thursday.
As he told Vigilant Sports, things could have been a lot worse, and he's going to avoid surgery. He also seems to be maintaining perspective:
No surgery, no injections. So it’s not as bad as everybody thought it would be.
Obviously there’s a healing process and then treatment, and then I have to get strength back in my shoulder. Then, I’m good to go.
...It’s very disappointing. It has been tough for me but it is what it is, man. It’s not really the way that I wanted to end my summer. What can you do? I’m not going to sit over here and cry. I’m back in Indy, happy to be here, and happy to see my guys over here, too.
I got to move forward, hopefully have a great season, and then I’ll see those guys next summer.
It is what it is, man. What can you do?
Life lessons from Ian Mahinmi, folks.
France managed a 3-2 record in the group stage of the World Cup but will face a tough test opposite Croatia in the Round of 16 on Saturday.
[Dap PBT]