Basketball World Cup: Mitch Creek, Deng Adel, Brock Motum shock omissions in Boomers squad
The Boomers have made some stunning World Cup roster decisions, with two players in particular, both with NBA experience, missing out on the final 12 for the trip to China.
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Australian coach Andrej Lemanis says cutting fringe NBA player Mitch Creek from the final Boomers squad for the FIBA World Cup was one of the toughest and most sleep-depriving calls of his national team tenure.
On Wednesday Lemanis unveiled the 12-man squad for the tournament in China that gets underway later this month and the omission of Creek was the major talking point.
Creek has bounced from the NBL to the NBA’s second-tier G-League to the NBA in the past 12 months after being an integral part of the NBL-based Boomers outfit that helped Australia qualify for the game’s showpiece tournament.
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But ultimately, the lack of an outside shooting game and the eye-catching form of Germany-based Xavier Cooks at the four-day selection camp in Melbourne counted against Creek in the race for the one vacant small forward spot on the roster behind Utah Jazz star Joe Ingles.
Five NBA-based players are in the squad with six survivors from the heartbreaking Rio Olympic campaign. Five NBL-based players made the cut.
Creek’s fellow fringe NBA player Deng Adel also missed out on selection with Lemanis saying the talented and athletic forward had a bright future with the Boomers when he got more experience under his belt.
Great to have @illawarrahawks jnr @xaviercooks9 back at the Snakepit before linking-up with @BasketballAus Boomers. Just signed in France with @sigstrasbourg & is targeting a career the @NBA, but hoping @steakN3veg can twist his arm to pull on a Hawks jersey at some stage! #NBL20 pic.twitter.com/Ggh5kN2prL
— Corey Hammond (@Corey_Hammo) August 1, 2019
He said the outstanding form of Perth Wildcat Nick Kay was also irresistible and won him a power forward spot over Rio Olympian Brock Motum.
Lemanis said the “worst thing” about selection camps for major tournaments was having to cut players who were so “passionate about the green and gold”.
“All those conversations are tough and emotional for their own reasons. But yeah, for sure, telling Creeky was one of those ones that keeps you up at night,’’ Lemanis told The Courier-Mail.
OH KAY! 👌ðŸ¼
— Perth Wildcats (@PerthWildcats) August 6, 2019
Nick Kay has been named in the Aussie Boomers FIBA World Cup team!
Congratulations Nick! 💚💛 pic.twitter.com/TWoUFXD4KP
“That was as heartbreaking as any of them. For the journey that we’ve been through with Creeky, it was a really tough decision.
“But at the end of the day — just for the skill sets we were looking for — we made the decision that other guys might help us a little bit more in a way that would benefit the team.
“He was obviously disappointed but he was great in that he wished us all the best at the World Cup and told us to ‘go get ‘em’.’’
Lemanis said the Boomers was not an “All-Star” team and the 12-man squad had to have skill sets that were complementary over the course of the tournament.
He said the quality of those omitted was a reflection of the strength of the squad and unashamedly said the goal for the Boomers was to win the whole thing.
“We are going there to win a gold medal. That’s purely and simply our goal,’’ he said.
“There’s a focus on that. There’s a drive behind it. There’s a belief that that’s something we can go and get done.’’
Lemanis became emotional at Wednesday’s press conference when he paid tribute to the NBL-based Boomers who helped Australia make the World Cup but will be watching from home.
“To a man, it makes them special,’’ he said.
Who’s who in the Boomers squad
Aron Baynes (Centre, Phoenix Suns, NBA)
An NBA champion in 2014 with San Antonio, Baynes brings an imposing defensive presence, supreme screens, an improved three-point shot and proven pick-and-roll play with Matthew Dellavedova.
Andrew Bogut (Centre, Sydney Kings, NBL)
An NBA champion with Golden State in 2015 and former No. 1 draft pick, Bogut’s vision, defence and general smarts are amplified in the Boomers’ set up.
Jonah Bolden (Power forward, Philadelphia 76ers, NBA)
Showed he belonged at NBA level alongside Ben Simmons last season and will bring athleticism and power to the front court when he makes his senior Australia debut.
Xavier Cooks (Small forward, SIG Strasbourg, France)
A newcomer to the Boomers’ set-up, Cooks was terrific in the German league last season and then impressed in the NBA’s Summer League to press his case.
Matthew Dellavedova (Guard, Cleveland Cavaliers, NBA)
The Cleveland NBA title winner comes into his own in the green and gold and will direct traffic as point guard.
Cameron Gliddon (Guard, Brisbane Bullets, NBL)
The versatile back-court talent will provide a level head, strong defence and a reliable three-point shot off the bench.
Chris Goulding (Guard, Melbourne United, NBL)
Like Gliddon, the proven scorer can offer back-court relief and nail a three-point shot when required.
Joe Ingles (Small forward, Utah Jazz, NBA)
A starter for the Jazz and arguably the Boomers’ key man, Ingles will do a little bit of everything for the team and do it well.
Nicholas Kay (Power forward, Perth Wildcats, NBL)
Alongside Bogut, the forward was the only other Australian named in the All-NBL first team in 2019 and has since forced his way into the World Cup squad after his training camp dominance.
Jock Landale (Centre, Zalgiris Kaunas, Lithuania)
Drawing comparisons to Baynes, Landale offers scoring punch to go with his sheer physicality and can thank his great NBA Summer League form for the call-up.
Patty Mills (Guard, San Antonio Spurs, NBA)
The spiritual leader of the side should will also be one of its main source of points, attacking the rim and jacking up threes when open.
Nathan Sobey (Guard, Brisbane Bullets, NBL)
Lightning fast, agile, skilled and tenacious, guard Sobey will be a handful to contain in spurts off the bench.