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Docs set to decide Wildcat Martin's future

3 minute read

Perth Wildcats skipper Damian Martin would love to play on next NBL season, but he's not sure if his battered body will be up for it.

DAMIAN MARTIN of the Wildcats in action.
DAMIAN MARTIN of the Wildcats in action. Picture: Graham Denholm/Getty Images

Perth Wildcats skipper Damian Martin says a diagnosis on his troublesome Achilles tendon will determine whether he continues his glittering NBL career.

Martin missed seven games late in the season with the injury, and will visit a doctor to see if surgery is required.

The 35-year-old says his heart is keen to play on, but it's just a matter of whether his physically-battered body can go on for another season.

"I've always said that so long as I love playing and I can play my role, I'll play on," Martin said.

"And right now I still love the club, love the Red Army, love the sport, love my teammates, so I can tick that box.

"It comes down to whether physically I can do it.

"If the doctor says, 'Yep we can take care of (your Achilles) with a moon boot', then fantastic.

"If I've got to have surgery, then at my age that's not what you want to hear."

If Martin plays on, he wants to do it at full capacity.

"I haven't been training for quite some time, and you can't just expect to wear the red jersey and not train," Martin said.

"So I know I've got to be a lot better physically if I want to wear the red jersey."

Martin is a five-time Championship winner. That number will swell to six if the NBL awards the Wildcats this season's title.

Perth were leading the best-of-five grand final series 2-1 when Sydney Kings pulled out this week for fear of the coronavirus.

The NBL will either award the Championship to the Wildcats, or declare no winner.

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