Basketball Australia has announced a star-studded 26-man Boomers squad to compete for Olympic gold at Rio this year.
There are eight Australians currently active on NBA lists, the most ever, leading to high expectations on this team.
The squad boasts two top-five NBA draft picks, Andrew Bogut (Golden State) and Dante Exum (Utah), as well as Matthew Dellavedova, who is coming off an outstanding year for the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Spurs’ ever-reliable Patty Mills.
Joe Ingles (Utah) and Aron Baynes (Detroit) have shown dramatic improvement this season as well.
The prodigious, presumptive number-one draft pick Ben Simmons has been selected as well, but his participation will be dependent on his NBA team providing the rookie leave.
An impressive NBL season has been fruitful as well, with 13 local players making the cut.
“It is a benefit to have a group that has spent time together both on and off the court,” Boomers head coach Andrej Lemanis said.
“That group went through a campaign together and a majority of that group also went to the World Championships which will certainly help in our preparation.
“What we’ve done is ensured we have depth in all positions which will help us if injuries ever occur.
“We have a fantastic core group of players that has been with us for a significant amount of time now and we have some exciting young talent that we have added to the squad.”
The list will be narrowed to 16 players in early July.
The 2016 Australian Boomers squad
David Andersen, ASVEL (France)
Cameron Bairstow, Chicago Bulls
Aron Baynes, Detroit Pistons
Todd Blanchfield, Melbourne United
Andrew Bogut, Golden State Warriors
Angus Brandt, Sydney Kings
Ryan Broekhoff, Lokomotiv Kuban (Russia)
Mitchell Creek, Adelaide 36ers
Matthew Dellavedova, Cleveland Cavaliers
Danté Exum, Utah Jazz
Adam Gibson, Adelaide 36ers
Cameron Gliddon, Cairns Taipans
Chris Goulding, Melbourne United
Joe Ingles, Utah Jazz
Nathan Jawai, Perth Wildcats
Daniel Kickert, Melbourne United
Kevin Lisch, Illawara Hawks
Aleks Maric, Buducnost Podgorica (Montenegro)
Damian Martin, Perth Wildcats
Patrick Mills, San Antonio Spurs
Brock Motum, Zalgiris Kaunas (Lithuania)
Mitchell Norton, Townsville Crocodiles
Ben Simmons, LSU
Clint Steindl, Townsville Crocodiles
Lucas Walker, Adelaide 36ers
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