Basketball news: Matthew Dellavedova confirms international absence as Boomers set to take inexperienced squad to Japan
Melbourne United star Matthew Dellavedova won’t play for the Boomers in the FIBA World Cup qualifiers, but he will still have a role to play.
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Matthew Dellavedova has confirmed he won’t play for the Boomers in February’s FIBA World Cup window to focus on Melbourne United’s championship aspirations.
Thankfully, Dellavedova has put his hand up to help any rising players who are selected for Australia to take on Chinese Taipei and Japan in Japan.
The Boomers will push on without established NBL stars like Dellavedova, Nathan Sobey and Duop Reath, as the domestic season isn’t stopping due to Covid.
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It means the Australians will be forced to select a host of emerging players to complement experienced overseas-based men like Nick Kay and Angus Brandt.
It’s understood Basketball Australia has reached out to NBA Global Academy product and current G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels about the prospect of playing for the Boomers in February.
Daniels doesn’t have any games for the Ignite between February 20 and March 6.
Boomers officials believe the 18-year-old’s NBA draft stocks would benefit greatly from playing for his country.
However, it remains to be seen whether the Bendigo-born shooting guard, who played in the Under 19s World Cup last year, commits to Australia’s 2023 men’s Cup qualifiers
Dellavedova has a close connection with Daniels, with the pair regularly talking, and he would gladly offer a supportive ear to him, or any other emerging Aussie selected for the Boomers.
“I’m always happy to jump on the phone with anyone if I can help them out, especially the younger players coming through,” Dellavedova said.
“Whether they are at the Institute of Sport, the Centre of Excellence, or the Emerging Boomers group.
“It’s unfortunate with the timing (of the NBL season not pausing), but I’m sure whoever pulls on the green and gold is going to represent Australia the right way and Bevo will have the boys playing hard and together.”
It’s not ideal for the Boomers to be missing key NBL stars like Sobey and Goulding, but the players were left with little choice to put their clubs first given the already Covid interrupted season.
Dellavedova can see the positives, though, of Australia’s respected pathways and depth being put on show.
“The boys who do get an opportunity – if it is some of the younger ones who get a chance – they get a taste of what it is like and how awesome of an experience it is to pull on the green and gold,” he said.
“I’m sure it will just make them hungrier to try and experience it again.”
Dellavedova hasn’t had much to do with interim coach Rob Beveridge, but he has heard and seen plenty of good things about the 300-plus game NBL and experienced international coach.
It’s why he expects the Boomers to perform strongly with an understrength side in clashes against Chinese Taipei and Japan on February 25, 26 and 28.
“Everyone that I’ve spoken to about Bevo has always spoken really highly of him,” he said.
“He has been extremely successful in the NBL and with that Under 19s Aussie side way back in 2003 with Bogues, Damian Martin and co (winning gold).
“I think we are definitely in good hands there.”
D3ï¸âƒ£LLY FROM DEEP pic.twitter.com/Pwh7Cw1Nv8
— Melbourne United (@MelbUnited) January 14, 2022
Dellavedova’s focus will now shift to maintaining Melbourne United’s winning momentum.
United will face a stern test against Brian Goorjian’s high-flying Illawarra Hawks in Wollongong.
Dellavedova rates the Hawks’ talent and depth, and can understand why some experts have hailed the boys from the Gong as championship favourites.
“Illawarra has been playing great basketball so far this season,” he said.
“You know they are going to be really well prepared, and they’ve got a lot of weapons offensively and defensively.
“Their two guards can put up a lot of points in a hurry, then they’ve got Antonius Cleveland on the wing and Duop (Reath) has been having a great season and really showing a lot of different parts to his game.
“They’ve got a lot of depth to go with the (talent), so they are a really tough team.”
ILLAWARRA HAWKS VS MELBOURNE UNITED
Sunday, January 16 from 1pm (AEDT) and Live on ESPN, 10Peach and Kayo
Baby Boomers? Why NBL stars will miss Aussie games
The Boomers most likely won’t have big-name NBL players available for their World Cup qualifiers in February, with the league planning to press on with its season.
Australia’s quest for 2023 World Cup qualification ramps up on February 25, 26 and 28 with games against Chinese Taipei and Japan in Japan.
The Boomers had planned to field a strong side featuring NBL stars like Matthew Dellavedova, Nathan Sobey, Chris Goulding and Duop Reath, but it appears this won’t happen because the season won’t pause.
Basketball Australia has contacted all 10 NBL clubs to find out which players are interested in representing their country.
Clubs were told to work with BA and to offer up at least one player each, despite the NBL’s decision to continue with its fixtures during the international window.
Teams can’t force players to sit out internationals under FIBA rules, but players can choose club over country and fulfil their NBL commitments in an already Covid-interrupted season.
As a result, it’s unlikely some of Australia’s biggest NBL stars will suit up for the Boomers in February as they instead focus on the domestic season.
This could open the door for Australia to blood a host of fresh faces, including NBA Global Academy graduate and G League Ignite guard Dyson Daniels and Illawarra Hawks forward Akoldah Gak, who both represented Australia at the FIBA Under-19 World Cup in July last year.
The Boomers side will need experienced players like reliable forward Nick Kay, who is currently playing for Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese league.
Interim Boomers coach Rob Beveridge is confident he can succeed with an inexperienced Australian team.
Beveridge has significant international coaching experience, including appearances at the Olympics and Commonwealth Games as an assistant and 15 appearances as a head coach at the national junior championships.
“Being appointed as head coach for the Boomers has been a lifetime goal, albeit just for this small window, and for this I am extremely grateful,” Beveridge said.
The @BasketballAus Emus went down at the @FIBA U19 World Cup last night in the Round of 16, falling to Spain.@illawarrahawks DP Akoldah Gak (@akoldah) was a bright spot leading the team in scoring with 16 points to go with seven rebounds 👀 pic.twitter.com/Yqpgr6VDQM
— The NBL (@NBL) July 8, 2021
“Representing your country is the ultimate honour and to be given an opportunity to lead the Boomers against Chinese Taipei and Japan is an absolute privilege.
“I sincerely want to thank Basketball Australia and Brian Goorjian for their belief that I can lead our country during this FIBA window.
“I am sure that our coaching staff, support staff and the team that we assemble in these very trying times will represent the Boomers with distinction and do everyone proud.”
Beveridge will be joined by Mike Kelly (Wildcats assistant coach) and Robbie McKinlay (head coach at the Centre of Excellence) who have a deep understanding of a highly talented pool of athletes, in particular those who have previously played internationally for Australia.
Completing the coaching team will be Australian Shawn Dennis, who is coaching Nagoya Diamond Dolphins in the Japanese B League.
Boomer’s pick Goorjian’s replacement
Rob Beveridge is set to be announced as Boomers coach for Australia’s two World Cup qualifiers in February following Brian Goorjian’s withdrawal.
Beveridge, a former Boomers assistant and junior head coach, will briefly return to the fold to fill in for Goorjian, who has opted to stay in Australia to coach the Illawarra Hawks because the NBL season isn’t pausing due to Covid.
Goorjian has worked closely with Basketball Australia on finding a replacement and it’s believed Beveridge is the best man for the job.
The former Perth, Illawarra, West Sydney, and Sydney Spirit coach has extensive experience in the Australian system.
Beveridge has been head coach at the Under 15s Australian National Junior Championships, winning five titles.
He has won a Paralympics silver medal in 2000 while he has coached at the 2004 Olympics as an assistant, the Commonwealth Games in 2006 and 2018 and the World Championships in 2003 (gold medal), 2006, 2019 (bronze medal).
It remains to be seen which players join Beveridge for the two World Cup qualifiers against Chinese Taipei (February 25) and Japan (February 27).
The NBL season won’t pause due to the growing Covid cases within the league, sparking doubt over who will play.
Sydney Kings guard Angus Glover is one player keen to don the green and gold if selected.
Glover has previously played for the Boomers during the 2019 World Cup qualifiers and he is keen to play again, especially after overcoming multiple ACL knee injuries dating back to his youth.
“Any time you get a chance to put on the green and gold, you really want to do it,” Glover said.
“One thing that massively helps is no more 14-day quarantine, which helps anyone who wants to play and travel overseas.
“Hopefully I can get my name called.
“The NBL schedule will play a part for some guys potentially.
“Our club is pretty good with always thinking about the players, and I think given my injury history, they would be pretty cool with me going to play.”
The NBL stars who could help solve NBA’s Covid strife
Could the growing impact of Covid on the NBA prompt the world’s best league to reach out to NBL players?
Boomers legend Chris Anstey thinks so.
The NBA has mandated that teams must bring in replacement players if they lose players to positive Covid results.
We’ve recently seen retired players come in: most notably the Boston Celtics signing 40-year-old former All-Star guard Joe Johnson to a 10-day contract.
Teams are also elevating G League players on 10-day contracts, including former NBL players like Cam Oliver (Atlanta) and Scotty Hopson (OKC).
Anstey believes a host of current NBL players could also be considered following skyrocketing coronavirus cases in the NBA.
“I just sit back, and I wonder: when do they come knocking on the NBL’s door, especially if we take a break from games due to Covid,” Anstey said.
“If there is a guy at that is negative, and I’m looking at guys like Tyler Harvey, Justinian Jessup, Duop Reath and Vic Law.
“If these guys are sitting around with no games, and I’m their agent, I’m calling the NBA and putting their name forward for a 10-day contract to get some exposure.
“Imagine if Vic Law or Reath goes over on a 10-day contract, has a couple of big games and then signs a deal.
“That would be an incredible opportunity for the players, but the NBL has got to be careful because we don’t want to lose some of the league’s top-end talent.”
MILLS THE GREATEST
Patty Mills is on track to become the Australian men’s basketball GOAT.
It’s a big statement to make, especially when you consider the successful careers of players like Andrew Bogut and Andrew Gaze, but it’s a creditable belief, according to Boomers and NBL legend Chris Anstey.
Mills has only played 33 games for Brooklyn, but he already ranks fourth all-time for the Nets in three-pointers off the bench.
The Canberra-born guard has dropped career-high numbers this NBA season, including a record equalling 34 points against LeBron James’ Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day.
Mills had eight threes against the Lakers – the most on Christmas Day in NBA history.
Anstey believes the Boomers veteran is destined for Aussie Hall of Fame status.
“I’ll tell you the other award we might end up giving Patty – the greatest Australian basketballer ever, he is really getting into that conversation,” Anstey said.
“Andrew Gaze has carried that title for so long, but I don’t think he would have any problem handing over the mantle to Patty and letting him carry it.
“You see the impact that Patty has on others, so the more time he can spend with Josh Giddey then we have got a ready-made successor.”
MCCALL ON THE NBA’S RADAR
The NBA is watching Cairns Taipans import shooting guard Tahjere McCall very closely.
I’m told McCall is as desirable as any import in the league from an NBA perspective, given his ability as a two-way player.
The 193cm guard won the G League Championship with the Lakeland Magic last March and has previously had an Exhibit 10 contract with the Atlanta Hawks and a 10-day contract with the Brooklyn Nets.
Sadly, McCall slipped on the court and hyperextended his left knee at training last week, however initial assessment shows no major structural damage.
WATCH OUT FOR RISING TALENT
Remember the name – Rocco Zikarsky.
The 15-year-old from Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, who stands at 219cm or 7’2, has been selected to join the NBA Global Academy in Canberra.
Zikarsky is already taller than the legendary Shaquille O’Neal and he has his sights set on making the NBA and playing for the Boomers.
He will arrive at the NBA Global Academy in Canberra this month.
Seeing this has all the feels come flooding back from what I had in that exact moment. Chills.
— Patrick Mills (@Patty_Mills) December 30, 2021
My Bala @Joeingles7 My Bala. 🤜ðŸ¾ðŸ¤›ðŸ¼ https://t.co/z6M2lj95Oo
LIKE
The emotional moment when Boomers stars Patty Mills and Joe Ingles celebrated winning Australia’s first men’s Olympic basketball medal has been brought to life in a brilliant painting in Sydney.
Artist Scotty Marsh has perfectly captured the special moment between Mills and Ingles at last year’s Tokyo Games on the walls of the AUSA facility in Alexandria.
Marsh’s painting has attracted significant praise, with everyone from Basketball Australia to politicians and rival sport’s marvelling in the quality piece of art.
Both Mills and Ingles gave the artist a shout out via social media to express their gratitude.
Thankyou Scott! 🙌🻠https://t.co/6dVeJNtoD4
— Joe Ingles (@Joeingles7) December 31, 2021
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