Crosscourt: Boomers’ struggle for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, AFL player returns to basketball
The Boomers are looking for a coach — and players — for crucial upcoming clashes, an ex-AFL man eyes a hoops return and ‘Aussie Monsta’ makes a big impression on the NBL. This and more in CROSSCOURT.
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NBL coaches Adam Forde, John Rillie, Sam Mackinnon and Jacob Chance are among those who could be tapped to lead the Boomers in November’s FIBA window — but selectors are struggling to cobble together a team.
Australia’s path to the 2027 World Cup in Qatar ramps up next month with away qualifiers against Thailand and Korea.
The NBL season will pause for the two games on November 21 and 24 – and while FIBA rules state players must make themselves available – the juggle of an NBL season adds a layer of complication that continues to pose issues for Basketball Australia during minor international windows.
Bronze medal-winning Boomers Nick Kay, Chris Goulding and Jack White didn’t hesitate to put their hands up, alongside young guns Rocco Zikarsky and Ben Henshall.
In-form Adelaide 36ers sharpshooter Dejan Vasiljevic is also keen to play, but it’s understood several players have said no to BA’s advances, despite the fact it could put their future national team chances at jeopardy.
With the recent birth of Matthew Dellavedova’s second child, he has opted to skip this window to be with family but still has his sights set on a role with the national team moving forward.
Delly’s United teammates Kyle Bowen and Tanner Krebs are available to play if selected.
Basketball Australia could look to the likes of Cairns’ Forde, Perth’s Rillie, Phoenix caretaker Mackinnon or a highly-rated assistant like United’s Jacob Chance to coach the two qualifiers.
It comes as the search for a new full-time head coach to step into Brian Goorjian’s shoes ramps up. The likes of United man Dean Vickerman and former Perth Wildcats coach Trevor Gleeson are in the mix for the top job.
BOOMERS 2027 WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS
November 21: Australia v Thailand in Bangkok
November 24: Australia v Korea in Korea
February 23: Australia v Thailand in Melbourne (venue TBC)
FULL CIRCLE? WILSON’S SECOND COMING AT HOOPS
Ex-Sydney King Tom Wilson hasn’t played professional basketball for over five years following an AFL stint with Collingwood, but he believes the hard yards behind the scenes have put him in a position for another crack at hoops.
Wilson knew his time in AFL was coming to an end after suffering a back injury prior to his last season in 2023.
He was on the open market again — and purely on impulse — he decided to attend a Melbourne Tigers training session under the legendary Andrew Gaze.
He knew he’d be rusty, but he thought he’d another crack at hoops.
Now after a NBL1 stint and training with the Phoenix, United and the Bullets, Wilson is waiting by his phone hopeful of a call-up.
“You only get the chance to be a professional athlete for a short period of time,” Wilson, 27, told Crosscourt.
“To be honest, I think a lot of people were a bit apprehensive about someone that hasn’t played for such a long time, which is totally understandable.
“I think for the most part people have been pleasantly surprised that my skill level is still at a pretty decent standard.
“I feel like I’m in a good head space and physical condition, so I’ve just got to stay ready for when an opportunity presents.”
Wilson is also trying to balance his basketball ambitions with his clothing business — Colour Plane.
It’s not easy, but he says his time in the AFL system has helped him handle the unpredictability of life on the edge as a free agent.
“It’s different after spending a fair bit of time out of the game, but it has been awesome coming back to it,” he said.
“I feel very lucky that I’ve been able to come back to the game and have a little bit of success.”
WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET FROM ‘AUSSIE MONSTA’
Montrezl Harrell’s only played seven NBL games but he’s already become the league’s biggest drawcard.
Harrell’s larger than life personality has captivated Aussie basketball and veteran Jason Cadee says everything fans have seen — the roaring at teammates, opponents, refs and fans and the intense personality — is completely authentic.
“He’s a loud personality, everything is what you see is what you get with Trez,” Cadee told Crosscourt.
“Whatever everyone (sees) on TV is how he is behind closed doors.“He’s a great human being, he’s a great person — but he is a (big) personality.”
Haven’t been in Australia for long but I definitely feel the love they give me here and know I appreciate it and hope I give it back every time I lace up my kicks for yall! Feeling real ASSUIE MATE!!!!
— ÙŽ (@monstatrezz) October 22, 2024
That big personality has also meant the respected just-reached 400-gamer has leant a friendly word in the 30-year-old man mountain’s ear as he learns Australian sporting culture.
“He says how he feels and it’s not in a bad way, It’s just how he is.”
“When you’re the loudest in the room, and probably in some rooms the scariest … he means it in the right way but it’s just sometimes how you deliver a message.
“And so that was my thing with him. I was like, ‘Trez, I hear you, and you’re correct, but some people will be taking this the wrong way’.
“And he’s like, ‘I got you, I got you’ and I think he’s starting to find the Aussie way. He calls himself the ‘Aussie Monsta’.
“He’s trying to figure out his way of actually influencing the group in a positive and a negative — because he needs to also hold people accountable.”
From wanting to get back to the NBA as quickly as possible when he arrived, the 500-game NBA man’s attitude has quickly changed.
Days after signing on with the Sixers for the remainder of the season — with no NBA outs — Harrell was extolling the virtues of his new home Down Under.
“Haven’t been in Australia for long but I definitely feel the love they give me here and know I appreciate it and hope I give it back every time I lace up my kicks for y’all.”
He wrote on Twitter. “Feeling real Aussie mate!”
MORE LOCAL COACHES IN THE NBL?
Sam Mackinnon’s short stint as stand-in coach of the South East Melbourne Phoenix has sparked debate around the opportunities afforded to local head coaches by NBL clubs.
Legends like Chris Anstey took to social media to question if the domestic competition needs more locally-born coaches in the system, concerned too many clubs were opting for imported mentors.
No need for @SEMelbPhoenix to fly in an unknown coach, Sam Mackinnon is your man, plus you’ll be strengthening Australian coaching pathways
— Chris Anstey (@ChrisAnstey13) October 20, 2024
There are currently four Australian-born coaches in the NBL in Dean Vickerman, John Rillie, Adam Forde and Justin Schueller.
Sydney’s legendary Brian Goorjian is American by birth only — he’s as Aussie as Vegemite, having made Australia home for 47 years to become the NBL’s most successful coach — and led the Boomers to their first ever major medal.United mentor Vickerman doesn’t want the percentage of local NBL mentors to dip any lower, but can see the benefit of overseas coaches in Australia.
“I actually like it and I enjoy coming up against the different styles from all over the world,” Vickerman said.“It’s a challenge.”
BATTLING PHOENIX BOOSTED BY HUNTER COMMITMENT
Any fears South East Melbourne’s finest leader could be lured by an Asian club in the next three years have been averted.
Sources told Code Sports key Aussie big man Jordi Hunter has given up the Asia out clauses in his contract, ensuring he is fully committed to the Phoenix until at least the end of the 2026-27 season.
Amid early season turmoil, where the club lost its first five games, axed coach Mike Kelly and hired American Josh King, Phoenix co-captain Hunter has played a key role in holding the group together.
Couple that with stellar play and a dearth of true centres on the Phoenix roster and the club prioritised a renegotiation of the contract of arguably its most important player.
Hunter’s out clauses were to kick in each off-season of his three-year deal and expire before the beginning of the next season.
The 27-year-old’s added layer of commitment is a big positive for the club off the back of its first win of the season as it hopes to turn its campaign around under a new coach.
After four seasons in Sydney where he won two NBL titles, Hunter made the move to South East Melbourne in free agency and, through six games, he is enjoying career-best form, producing 13.8 points and 8.2 rebounds while shooting over 60 per cent from the field. He dominated Melbourne United in Sunday’s 93-84 win with 20 points and 9 rebounds and he’ll lead the Phoenix under caretaker coach Sam Mackinnon in a road-home double this week, first against the Breakers in New Zealand Thursday night, then a Saturday home date with top-of-the-table Illawarra.
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Originally published as Crosscourt: Boomers’ struggle for upcoming World Cup qualifiers, AFL player returns to basketball
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