If the Australian Boomers were listed on the stock exchange, the advice from your broker would be to stop what you are doing and buy. I’m not sure if there has ever been a more exciting time for Australian basketball.
All things going to plan, the current crop of young world class Aussies should see the national team challenge for medals at the elite level for years to come.
Here is a list that we could possibly see on court soon.
Point guard – Patrick Mills
NBA Championship winner Patrick Mills is an explosive guard who has great pace and can nail three pointers with the best of them. Has a great passing game and is good defensively. He topped Australia’s scoring at the 2012 London Olympics and can post big numbers when he heats up. His NBA experience will help him lead the team from the front.
Shooting guard – Dante Exum
Drafted number five overall by Utah Jazz this year and still only 19, Dante Exum has so much upside. Exum already possesses a lightning first step and likes to take it to the rim. He is amazing in transition due to his great pace. He is an unselfish player who is always looking to set others up. Standing 6’6” in the old language with an impressive wingspan he is a great defender. His shooting needs to improve to be world class, but he has plenty of time for that. Has the potential to be an NBA All-Star.
Small forward – Ben Simmons
Son of Dave Simmons, former Melbourne Tiger, standing at 6’9” and weighing in at 110 kilograms, this kid may be the most exciting prospect Australian basketball has ever seen and he’s only 18 years old. A lefty, he is a monster in the paint and loves to throw the ball down with a variety of aggressive slams. He has a huge span and is a defensive machine who loves to block the ball.
He has grown up playing as a point guard meaning he has amazing ball handling skills, can pass like the best of them and can shoot from range, all rare attributes in a player of his size. He has great pace and runs the transition well.
This skill set, in addition to his excellent basketball IQ, make him a nightmare for opposition teams at both ends of the court. With comparisons to LeBron James many think he will be pick one in the NBA draft in the next couple of years. It is simply a matter of when and not if with this guy.
Power forward – Aron Baynes
Playing off the bench alongside Mills for the 2014 championship winning San Antonio Spurs, Aron Baynes is a powerhouse big man at 6’10”. With the absence of several key players in the recent 2014 World Championship, Baynes stepped up and became the focal point of the team, finishing with a team high 16 points and seven rebounds a game over six games.
Centre – Andrew Bogut
Picked one overall in the NBA draft by Milwaukee Bucks In 2005, Andrew Bogut was touted to be Australia’s first NBA All-Star. In a career marred by injury Bogut has barely been able to make it on court for the Boomers in recent years. Now playing for the league leading Golden State Warriors and free from injury, Bogut has carved out a niche as one of the best passing centres in the NBA and is a linchpin for the Warriors and their hopes of an NBA title this year.
Add to that he is a monster in the paint defensively and a rebounding king. Don’t leave him open either as he is able to knock down the shots at a high shooting percentage when needed. Bogut has committed to playing with the Boomers in Rio 2016.
The bench
Matthew Dellavedova
Currently playing at Cleveland with none other the LeBron James, Dellavedova is a hard-nosed point guard who does not take a backwards step. Not known for scoring, it is in the clinches where you will find Dellavedova. When the going gets tough ‘Delly’ gets going.
Joe Ingles
Ingles has been a mainstay in the Boomers side for a number of years. A lanky guard, Ingles has been on the starting roster at the Utah Jazz for the last few weeks and performing well. He is mainly there as a defensive player for the Jazz, but will step up the offence when playing for the Boomers. He has performed very well for his country over the years.
Thon Maker
If Ben Simmons is the most exciting thing in Australian basketball, then his guy is not far behind. Sudanese born Australian, Maker is still only 17. It’s hard to judge how good he is, because he can’t find an opponent to guard him. Playing high school ball he is simply too good.
At 7’1″ he is a giant, but he can shoot and dribble like a guard. He has excellent range and possesses a mean crossover. He is a rejection machine and dunks more often than not when near the basket. Add to that he has an incredible mid to long-range game for his size.
It’s not surprising he is rated one of the best prospects for his age in the world. Maker needs to add weight to his light frame to mix it with the big boys in the NBA, but rarely, if ever, do we see a seven-footer with his range of skills.
Brad Newley
A talented shooter, this 6’6” small forward can come off the bench and put some points up with his deadly accurate shooting. Some of his best performances have been as a Boomer.
Cameron Bairstow
At 6’9” and 24 years old, Bairstow is just starting to hit his straps. He is good in the post and good with both hands inside. Drafted in 2014 to the Chicago Bulls, Cameron will be looking for more court time this season as he aims to take the next step. The question mark is over his athleticism and his ability to guard similar sized opponents. He is a hard worker and hopefully will bring a great attitude to the Boomers for years to come.
Nate Jawai
Nicknamed ‘Outback Shaq’, Jawai is something of an enigma. At first glance he looks more like a rugby player than a basketballer, but he can play. He has great speed for his size and is hard to play through, so he is good in defence. Didn’t have the best 2014 World Championships as he looked a bit underdone. Jawai will be looking to improve if he gets another chance with the Boomers.
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.
If people can lose their job, and clubs can face massive payouts, due to the behaviour of coaches, it will drastically change the way sporting teams in Australia will be run.
A Serbian, a Canadian, a Slovenian and a Greek fellow walked into a bar … Well, they’ve actually walked into the NBA and now…
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
