- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
The NBA is still on the cards for Australian basketball standout David Andersen, but right now his focus is solely on helping the Boomers win a breakthrough medal at the Beijing Olympic Games.
Along with Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut, Andersen will be a key part of Australia’s team at the Olympics in August.
The 212cm big man has just signed a three-year deal with European power Barcelona, having decided to leave Russian club CSKA Moscow after helping them to two Euroleague titles and four Russian championships in four remarkably successful seasons.
NBA club Atlanta holds Andersen’s NBA rights after drafting him back in 2002 and the Australian is considering joining Bogut in the United States for the 2009-10 season.
But he is heavily committed to the Boomers’ cause, leading him to quickly agree a deal with Barcelona so his immediate future is secure and he can link up with Australia for their crucial European tour.
Coach Brian Goorjian’s team fly to Europe on Sunday, where they will join up with Andersen and Matt Nielsen for games against Croatia, Greece, Brazil and Angola.
“One of the reasons I’m so happy about signing with Barcelona is that it allows me to join the Boomers on their European tour,” Andersen said.
“We need to get things going with the national team to get our playing style set and our execution smoother.
“Doing as well as I can with the Boomers is now my priority and I can’t wait to join the guys in Europe.”
Andersen is being rested from the two-game series against New Zealand starting this Thursday so Goorjian can get a look at some of the players still battling for an Olympic berth.
The 28-year-old Andersen has already shown his commitment, returning home last year to help a very understrength Boomers team beat the Kiwis to ensure Olympic qualification.
Andersen’s name will be one of the first Goorjian puts forward to the Australian Olympic Committee on July 2.
“We’ve got great competition over there which will make us more competitive in Beijing,” Goorjian said.
“Dave is obviously one of our best players and having him in Europe will really help.”
After Beijing, Andersen has committed to spending the coming season with Barcelona.
But he has an out-clause in his contract to join Atlanta if they are prepared to match the multi-million dollar deal he has signed in Italy.
“I’ll be with Barcelona after the completion of the Olympic Games,” he said.
“If Atlanta comes to the plate, I do have NBA out-clauses with my contract and I could go there after my first or second year.”
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.