MILWAUKEE (2010 FIBA World Championship) - Andrew Bogut is sidelined with a shin injury right now but the Australia center admits his situation could be far worse.

The man the Boomers will need next summer to have a chance of reaching the podium at the 2010 FIBA World Championship in Turkey was enjoying his finest season in the NBA, averaging 16.1 points and 9.2 rebounds, when he got hurt on November 18 against the New Jersey Nets.

In Bogut's blog on his official website, www.andrewbogut.com, he talks about the injury.

"I have strained ligaments in my shin/lower leg," Bogut writes.

"Now, I can tell you I’m more frustrated than ever, and doing everything I can to be back on the court.

"My back was the major concern this season, including how it would hold up. I must say that it has held up very well, the rehab and training in the offseason really paid off!

"Now, I can hear the average fan saying, 'Wow, Bogut is always hurt'. The last two seasons, they have a valid argument, but like I told the media I never want to be hurt, and never want to miss games, especially with the success we have had to this point.

"This latest injury is a tough pill to swallow; it was nothing to do with being weak in the area, or stepping wrong. I took a freak hit from a player in the last 3 minutes of the game vs New Jersey.

"The only silver lining in this injury is that doctors think I’m very lucky not to have blown my knee or ankle. This injury is very, very rare."

Bogut then described how he got hurt.

"Basically, the hit I took came from the side, and usually with these hits you see guys go out with blown knees or ankles.

"I definitely was down when hearing I would be out hurt, but a little positive was that news I just shared with you regarding that it could have been much worse.

"I have stayed back from the latest road trip we are in.

"I am currently doing 3 hours therapy. Along with that I’m doing some upper body weight lifting and pool conditioning (pool conditioning is great with injuries like this, it keeps your fitness up without any pain or pounding on the legs). To finish off my days, I usually have an acupuncture session.

"On top of that when I get home, I ice at least 2-3 separate times."

Getting hurt, Bogut says, is no fun at all.

"As you can see, I’m running around more with treatment and rehab than I would be if I was healthy and playing," he wrote.

"This goes to show that being hurt is not a paid holiday as some people think.

"I always try to do everything possible to be back and healthy. Ice, massage, stretching or whatever it is, I’ll do it so I can get back to doing what I love."

FIBA