Updated March 07, 2017 13:33:22

Photo: Andrew Bogut's Cleveland Cavaliers debut lasted less than a minute before he broke leg. (AP: Tony Dejak)

Andrew Bogut has had a horror start at Cleveland Cavaliers after he broke his leg just 58 seconds into his debut for the NBA champions.

X-rays confirmed Bogut had fractured his left tibia and he has been ruled out indefinitely, having only joined the Cavaliers last week.

When Bogut came off the bench late in the final seconds of the first quarter of Tuesday's (AEDT) game against Miami Heat in Cleveland the home crowd gave him a loud cheer.

Sighs went through the arena 22 seconds into the second quarter when Bogut went out to the three-point line to defend Miami forward Okaro White.

White's knee struck Bogut in the left shin and the Australian centre fell to the floor in pain.

Cavaliers' medical staff examined the former number one draft pick, before two team-mates helped him to the locker room.

Bogut could not put pressure on his injured leg as he made his way off the court.

The 32-year-old, who has struggled with injury in recent years, was traded by the Dallas Mavericks to the Philadelphia 76ers last month before negotiating a contract buy-out and then joining the Cavaliers.

Bogut's arrival had capped a mid-season overhaul of the Cavaliers roster, with general manager David Griffin adding Kyle Korver, Derrick Williams and Deron Williams to a team already featuring James, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Love.

Photo: Andrew Bogut warms up for his Cavaliers debut prior to sustaining his leg injury. (AP: Tony Dejak)

He had understood playing time might be hard to come by, but stressed he would accept whatever the Cavaliers had in mind.

"Coming in you have a discussion with every team which you take with a grain of salt, which isn't disrespecting anybody," said Bogut in the build-up to his debut.

Doubts have now been raised about Bogut's NBA future in light of the list of injuries he has sustained during his career.

He has endured several knee injuries, a broken hand and a dislocated elbow, as well as a series of leg sprains since debuting in the NBA in the 2005/06 season.

Bogut was on the sideline for the end of last year's NBA Finals when appearing for Golden State Warriors because of bone bruises in his left knee picked up when playing against the Cavaliers in the play-offs.

Only last December he had right knee bone bruising and missed 11 games with the Mavericks, while he was also hindered by a hamstring strain during his brief stint in Dallas.

Bogut won an NBA championship with the Warriors in the 2014/15 season.

AAP/ABC

Topics: basketball, sport, united-states

First posted March 07, 2017 12:19:36