After a heart-breaking loss to Spain in the bronze medal game at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Australian basketball fans are looking ahead to 2020 in Tokyo, and with good reason.
Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova led Australia to unlikely victories over France and Serbia in the group stages, before ultimately falling short against Pau Gasol’s hot-shooting Spanish side.
The squad touts an impressive four NBA champions, equal to that of the current USA roster. While I’m not arguing Mills holds a candle to the likes of Kyrie Irving or Klay Thompson, winning an NBA championship requires a certain pedigree and personal characteristics, even for role players.
The likes of David Andersen and Damian Martin laid the foundation for this squad to flourish, with a determined work ethic that often made up for the perceived lack of talent.
But this skill shortage was nowhere to be seen as Australia powered through the group stage, losing only once, in a valiant effort against the USA.
San Antonio Spurs point guard Mills finished the Games second in scoring, averaging an impressive 21.3 points per game, with two 30-point performances, against basketball powerhouses USA and Spain.
Dellavedova, Aron Baynes, Andrew Bogut and Andersen all averaged just below ten points per game, but were crucial.
Having now finished fourth on four separate occasions, it’s only a matter of time until Australia finally medal at the Olympic Games.
With two picks inside the top ten from the 2016 NBA Draft, it’s looking more and more likely that the Boomers will finally break the fourth wall in Tokyo.
The first pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Ben Simmons, is expected to be a revolutionary talent for the Philadelphia 76ers, having averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds throughout his one year at Louisiana State University.
But the most impressive aspect of Simmons’ game is his incredible ball-handling ability and vision, two skills that aren’t often seen in 6″10′ forwards.
While Simmons will ultimately need to improve his jumpshot if he’s to become an NBA superstar, his role as a franchise cornerstone for the 76ers will give him plenty of time to develop.
This bodes well for the Boomers, who could participate in the 2020 Olympics with a 23-year-old Simmons entering the start of his prime. His potential to be lethal for Australia could be the deciding factor between another fourth-placed finish and a long-awaited medal.
Add to the mix the tenth pick of the 2016 NBA Draft Thon Maker. The 7″1’giant played basketball in Australia for the majority of his childhood, after being born into a war-torn Sudan.
While there are those who doubt his age, the 19-year-old could easily grow into one of the nation’s best players.
Many critics claim that Maker is too scrawny to make it in the NBA as a true big man. But the combination of his uncanny shooting ability and ridiculous wingspan (7″3′) is going to make him one of the hardest players to guard in the league.
While the 2016 Rio squad performed well above expectations, the potential Australian squad for the 2020 Olympics is unreal.
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