International talent scout says Australia has become an NBA talent factory

AS Ben Simmons takes the basketball world by storm, an international talent scouting pioneer says Australia has become a breeding ground for the next generation of NBA player.

Perth’s Bryce Cotton and Melbourne United’s Casper Ware are on the radar of NBA clubs.

INTERNATIONAL talent scouting pioneer Tony Ronzone says Australia has become a breeding ground for the next generation of NBA player.

Ronzone, the director of player personnel for the Dallas Mavericks, visits Australia at least once every year in the hope of uncovering the next Ben Simmons or veteran gems in the NBL — a competition he says is in the top six basketball leagues in the world.

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Tony Ronzone is one of the first US scouts to recognise basketball talent outside the US. Picture: Getty Images

Ronzone wants to uncover the next Ben Simmons Down Under. Picture: AP

“You’ve got Euroleague, you’ve got the Spanish league and the German league’s pretty up there, but I would put Australia with any of the top leagues in the world right now (outside the NBA),” Ronzone said.

“The league’s (NBL) getting better, the talent’s getting better and that’s why we come here.”

This year, Adelaide 36ers import Terrance Ferguson was drafted by the Oklahoma City Thunder and Brisbane Bullet Torrey Craig latched on with the Denver Nuggets.

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Ronzone, who helped orchestrate the arrival of German legend Dirk Nowitzki to Dallas, reels off NBL stars as if he is a fan. He knows them intimately, knows their strengths and weaknesses and wants to give them a chance to cut it at NBA level.

“We have a mini-camp that we run in Dallas and we’ve had a few of the Australian players who have participated,” he said.

Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding stepped out for Dallas in the 2014 NBA Summer League. Picture: Getty Images

Ronzone has had his eye on both Perth’s Bryce Cotton and Melbourne United’s Casper Ware. Picture: AAP

“We had (Melbourne United star) Chris Goulding in our Summer League team a couple of years ago, he came in and worked out in Dallas.

“We brought in (United big man Majok) Majok — I wanted to see him against other top guys.

“We brought in the kid from Adelaide, the centre, the big 6’11” kid, (Matt) Hodgson, I had (Brisbane Bullets import) Travis Trice in.

“Of course (United point guard) Casper Ware is my guy from my college and I played at Long Beach State, so I know him really well. (Perth Wildcats champion) Bryce Cotton was in our mini camp, (Adelaide’s) Nathan Sobey’s another guy.”

But he singles out a skinny kid from Melbourne who he believes could defy the odds.

“Even a young surfer from Melbourne, he’s small, but he’s tough as nails — Kyle Adnam,” he said.

Ronzone says Melbourne United’s Kyle Adnam is putting bums on seats at games. Picture: AAP

John Stockton is in the NBA Hall of Fame, but Ronzone says Kyle Adnam has similar traits. Picture: AP

“He’s just one of those guys that catches your attention. He reminds a little of (Utah Jazz legend) John Stockton — I shouldn’t say that, because John Stockton’s a Hall of Famer — but, you know, for Australia, he’s an exciting player and he’s bringing people into the arena.

“I guarantee a lot of those people come to Melbourne games to watch Kyle Adnam.

“It’s pretty amazing to go to a Melbourne game on a Thursday night and there’s like 8000-9000 people there, it’s sold out.”

Boomer Mitch Creek is one the international scouts are keeping their eye on. Picture: Sarah Reed

Ronzone was part of building the 2004 NBA champion Detroit Pistons’ roster and says Aussie players are irresistible to American teams because of their selflessness.

“I think the positive of the basketball in Australia is the Australian personality of being very selfless, very unselfish — you guys are very giving, very caring people and it shows the way your personality is when you’re over there — people are so bloody nice,” he said.

“It’s the toughness of these kids growing up playing AFL and competing with other sports.”

With over 300 Australians playing college ball in America right now, Ronzone believes that will only make the NBL stronger.

“Out of those 300, maybe one will make the NBA, but what’s going to happen is that there’s going to be 10-20 per cent who are really good that are going to come back and play in the NBL,” he said.

Ronzone was one of the architects of the Detroit Pistons’ roster that won the 2004 NBA title. Pictured are Ben Wallace and Chauncey Billups with the spoils. Picture: Getty Images

Dirk Nowitzki drains one over Aussie Patty Mills. The German is Dallas’ greatest player and Ronzone was part of the team that brought him to Texas. Picture: AP

Ronzone credits NBL owner Larry Kestelman with helping to revitalise the game in Australia.

“I remember about six years ago it was pretty much a dying breed and I think the AFL was starting to pinch all the athletes from the basketball side, which I know they always still want because they translate real well to AFL,” he said.

“Now I go there, the games are exciting, the entertainment is great — Larry and his crew, to their credit, have studied (what works) and came over to the NBA, sending three teams over to play in the preseason and helped change and improve the product.

“The NBL is a factory. I look at all these young kids coming to games, they’re buying Melbourne gear, they’re following these players they’re loving it, then they’re going home and watching NBA games because they want to see the Aussies play, so now the NBL’s just feeding off guys playing NBA.”