NZ Breakers captain Abercrombie to be sidelined for three months

New Zealand Breakers captain Thomas Abercrombie’s eye surgery for a torn retina has been successful but recovery time could be longer than first anticipated.

Tom Abercrombie.
Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The four-time NBL Champion’s freak injury happened during the pre-season game against the Brisbane Bullets in Darwin on Sunday night.

The 35-year-old had no vision above his forehead in his left eye.

Abercrombie started the game but played just 46 seconds, and specialists in Australia suggested it could take three months to heal.

Abercrombie holds the Breakers’ all-time records for most appearances, most points and three-pointers and is playing his 14th season for the club.

He has spent the last two seasons on the road in Australia because of COVID, wondering if he will ever play at home again.

“It’s been nearly 1000 days since I played a game at home, and there’s nothing more I’ve been looking forward to than October 7th at Spark”, says Abercrombie.

“Hopefully, it’s still a realistic target for me.”

He remembers little of the incident on Sunday, which has disrupted his season.

“It was a bit of an inconspicuous poke to the eye; I didn’t think there was too much to it,” he says.

“In terms of places to tear your retina, it’s in a reasonably good place, but it is close to the centre (of the eye).

“The surgeon in Australia was talking anywhere from two weeks to three months recovery time, and seeing the surgeons in New Zealand; it was the same.”

A clearer picture of when he will be back on the court will be made by the surgeon next week.