Utah Jazz assistant coach Evan Bradds impressed by the level of talent in Australian basketballers

An NBA assistant coach has been travelling across the country over the last two weeks and has nothing but praise for the talent in Australia as well as the current crop of players in the NBA. See why he believes the future is bright for Australian basketball here.

Utah Jazz assistant coach Evan Bradds has nothing but praise for the talent of Australia basketballers competing in the NBA and various competitions.

Bradds, who has been assistant coach at the Jazz since 2022 after spending four years with the Boston Celtics, believes the future is bright for Australia.

“They’ve had a good run of talent lately with some of their younger guys, even their older guys, I grew up watching (Matthew) Dellavedova in Cleveland, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles all those guys,” he said.

“The talent has been getting better and it has always been really good, but getting a good run of young guys lately, (Josh) Giddey, Dyson Daniels and guys like that.”

Bradds has spent the last two weeks in Australia holding various coaching clinics with his last session held in Toowoomba on Sunday.

“This is my first time in Australia and I’ve really been enjoying it, it has been fun,” he said.

“I think the more we spread, the better it will get and we are seeing that with all levels of basketball.

“With the NBA you got people from all over the world and it has been cool to come over here to try and help a little bit.”

Bradds spoke highly of the passion young Australians have for the sport as the talent and popularity continued to grow.

Josh Giddey during the Men's Quarterfinal match between Team Australia and Team Serbia. Photo: Jamie Squire/Getty Images

“I think the most impressive thing is just the way that they enjoy the game,” he said.

“I know that I am not breaking any groundbreaking news right there but everyone here has been really refreshing and been really fun to work with really young players and young talent that really are just here to have fun and get better, so it has been fun.”

After the USA claimed its fifth-straight men’s basketball gold medal in the Olympics in dramatic fashion with Stephen Curry heroics thwarting the hopes of a French triumph, Bradds believed the increased competition his country faced is only a good thing for the game.

“I think anytime you get to watch good basketball it’s a good thing for everybody,” he said.

“I really enjoy the Olympics, I watch the World Cup even, the Eurobasket all that stuff as much as possible.

“So whenever the games are good it’s good for everyone, good for fans, good for coaches, good for players so I really do enjoy that.”

As for the clutch efforts from Curry late in the game, Bradds was delighted to be able to enjoy it rather than being on the other side of it, as has been the case in previous NBA encounters.

Utah Jazz NBA assistant coach Evan Bradds at the Toowoomba junior basketball clinic.

“He’s one of the greatest to ever do it and obviously it has changed the way we play the game in some respects,” he said.

“It’s obviously awesome to cheer for him and watch him instead of pulling your hair out and trying to play against him and compete against him.”

Bradds spoke about the highlights of working in the NBA and is excited for what lies ahead this year as the Jazz look to return to the post-season after missing the play-in the last two campaigns.

“There’s so many great things about it, I always tell people it’s the second best job in the world, the best job in the world is being a player,” he said.

“It has been good, everything about it I love it, it has been a hell of a ride so far.

“I am really excited, every time I get more and more excited and it’s a long off-season and we’re coming on about a month out.

“I am really excited, really looking forward to it, I think we’ve got a great group of guys and looking forward to see what we can do.”

Originally published as Utah Jazz assistant coach Evan Bradds impressed by the level of talent in Australian basketballers