On Monday, Sept. 1, the team confirmed in a press release<\/a> that Griscti would be missing the start of the NBL season.<\/p>\n \u201cBen was injured when a backboard collapsed on top of him during the team\u2019s shoot around at the AIS Arena, ahead of the side\u2019s final NBL Blitz game,\u201d the release read<\/a>.<\/p>\n The athlete reportedly waited for an ambulance for over 90 minutes despite the hospital being only five minutes away by car, according to ABC.<\/p>\n “There were a number of other emergencies in the territory at the time of that call,” ACT Ambulance Service chief officer David Dutton told the outlet.<\/p>\n PEOPLE has contacted the ACT Ambulance Service, the Australian Government’s Office for Sport, the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) Arena and the South Australia Police for comment.<\/p>\n Emily Barker\/Getty<\/p>\n Ben Griscti before the round two NBL match between Cairns Taipans and Adelaide 36ers at Cairns Convention Centre, on September 28, 2024 in Cairns, Australia<\/p>\n Never miss a story \u2014 sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter<\/a> to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.<\/p>\n “As soon as we were able to dispatch a paramedic crew to that patient they attended, and they transported that patient in a stable condition through to the emergency department,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n Dutton told the outlet that the case was reviewed, and “it was appropriately triaged as a priority two response for ACT Ambulance \u2014 so that is a non-lights and sirens response.\u201d<\/p>\n He added that Griscti was “conscious, alert and breathing the whole time” and was assisted by a team doctor before the ambulance arrived.<\/p>\n \u201cThere was no change in the patient’s condition and therefore, no change to the priority of the ambulance response,” he stated.<\/p>\n Mark Metcalfe\/Getty<\/p>\n A general view during the 2025 NBL Blitz match between Melbourne United and Brisbane Bullets at AIS Arena on August 30, 2025 in Canberra, Australia<\/p>\n Despite the fracture, Griscti won\u2019t require surgery and has since returned home, according to his team.<\/p>\n \u201cHe has travelled home to Adelaide and a timeline for him to return to the court will not be set until he is able to get further medical advice to determine the next steps around the management of the injury,\u201d they concluded in their statement.<\/p>\n The NBL also said in a release<\/a> they were \u201cdeeply saddened\u201d about Griscti\u2019s \u201cserious injury during training at the AIS Arena on Saturday, August 30.”<\/p>\n \u201cThe NBL has been in direct contact to offer support to Ben, his family and the Adelaide 36ers. The welfare of all players and staff is our highest priority,\u201d they added. \u201cThe NBL is working with AIS Arena on the matter.\u201d<\/p>\n Griscti thanked everyone for \u201cthe messages of support and concern,\u201d adding that he\u2019ll \u201cbe back soon,\u201d per the NBL Instagram page<\/a>.<\/p>\n In a statement, a spokesperson for the Australian Sports Commission, the operator of AIS Arena, also told ABC that they would be taking the case \u201cseriously\u201d and “will be looking into the incident.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the original article on People<\/a><\/p>\n![\"Emily](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/08e1a275f4dcd59376e3e5e80e3c24ae.jpeg\"\/)
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