Injury bug bites JackJumpers as Roth eyes reinforcements

It may only be two rounds into the Hungry Jack's NBL26 season, but the Tasmania JackJumpers have been hit hard with the injury bug.

US import David Johnson is out until at least Round 6 with a calf injury, while fellow forward and NBL24 championship-winner Majok Deng will miss the 'next week or two', according to JackJumpers coach Scott Roth.

While Josh Bannan (thumb) avoided serious injury during Saturday's win at Illawarra, Roth admitted the JackJumpers were considering bringing in an injury replacement player.

"Normally, I would say no [to signing an injury replacement player], but unfortunately the schedule says there are 10 games in October," the NBL24 championship-winning coach said during the club's media availability.

"These are critical games for us and to have one extra player would be very helpful."

In addition to those injuries, sickness has swept through the JackJumpers camp over the past two and a half weeks, seeing captain Will Magnay not train ahead of their Hawks clash.

"After not training last week, I gave my best during the game [at Illawarra] and have been in bed since," 2024 Olympian Magnay, who had 7 points and 8 rebounds in Saturday's win, said.

"I'm feeling better, but I've still got this cough [I'm dealing with]."

Next up for the 2-1 JackJumpers, who this week celebrated their five-year anniversary, are the 1-2 Bullets at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, tipping off at 7.30pm AEST on Saturday, live on ESPN.