Adelaide 36ers rookie Benjamin Griscti, 23, ruptured his Achilles heel while training. Saturday’s incident at the AIS Arena Canberra was the latest such shocking scene turning a basketball game into something akin to a riot. The team had been focused on their Friday night assignment against the visiting Tasmania JackJumpers. All of this was taking place during the pre-season NBL Blitz tournament. During one practice a teammate had gone up and smashed a dunk. The impact from the dunk shattered the backboard, and Griscti was hit by the streaming glass.
Emergency services were on scene within minutes. Though emergency medical workers arrived shortly after Griscti was shot, they transported him to the hospital in an ambulance nearly two hours after the shooting. He’s still said to be in stable condition. Late on Saturday, the National Basketball League (NBL) made his injury official with a statement. They were personally concerned about the player’s welfare.
Details of the Incident
It was a tragic accident that happened in the lead up to a training session as the Adelaide 36ers were preparing for the inaugural UAE Pre-Season competition. As one of Griscti’s teammates performed a particularly impressive dunk, the backboard shattered completely, resulting in substantial injury to Griscti.
“The National Basketball League (NBL) is aware of a training incident involving Adelaide 36ers’ player, Benjamin Griscti at AIS Arena this afternoon,” – NBL
A club spokesperson later confirmed the reports on Griscti’s injury. To the deepest appreciation of their fans and supporters, they promised to keep everyone updated with news about his condition. In the wake of the incident, the NBL reassured the public that an investigation as to how the rink collapsed would take place.
Immediate Response and Investigation
Thanks to a rapid emergency response, Griscti was able to be treated quickly and professionally. His stability in the hospital has brought some reassurance to fans and teammates alike. The league continued to recognize the severity of the recent incident in their announcement. They are determined to learn what contributed to this preventable tragic event.
“The circumstances surrounding the incident will be investigated.” – NBL
As these investigations continue, the league hopes to put processes in place to prevent teams from bypassing hard safety protocols in practices.
Continuing with the Tournament
Though the outcome of that distressing incident for one of their players isn’t clear, the Adelaide 36ers are back to concentrating on their footy fixture. The 20 round-robin pre-season competition Fixed Games matches all went smoothly on Saturday night. It was a great lesson in the team’s ability to overcome adversity.
Michael Randall with CODE Sports was the first to break the news on Griscti’s injury and even live-tweeted updates during the game. Round Rock has publicly thanked fans for an outpouring of support during the sometimes difficult transition.
