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Australia has a new NBA player in Ryan Broekhoff

RYAN Broekhoff has become the latest Australian to join the NBA, signing a $2.4 million deal that marks him as the next Joe Ingles.

2 min read
July 13, 2018 - 4:01PM
Rio Olympics 2016. The Men's Australian Basketball team, the Boomers, v. Lithuania at Carioca 1, in Olymic Park Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Australia's Matthew Dellavedova and Ryan Broekhoff after the game. Picture: Alex Coppel.
Rio Olympics 2016. The Men's Australian Basketball team, the Boomers, v. Lithuania at Carioca 1, in Olymic Park Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Australia's Matthew Dellavedova and Ryan Broekhoff after the game. Picture: Alex Coppel.

THE comparisons between Aussie NBA star Joe Ingles and Australia’s newest NBA contracted player Ryan Broekhoff are everywhere — and it’s something neither of them are hiding away from.

The Utah Jazz star was one of the first to congratulate Broekhoff on his new two-year, $2.4 million deal with the Dallas Mavericks.

The 27-year-old enters the NBA as a mature-age recruit — just as Ingles did.

He achieved his NBA dream after multiple seasons of playing elite basketball in Europe — just as Ingles did.

His scout report lists him as a deadly three-point shooting swingman with a 6ft 7in build — just like Ingles’ did (6ft 8in).

The Mavericks are now banking on Broekhoff delivering for their re-building franchise and becoming a recruiting success story — just as Ingles did as he guided the Jazz through to the second round of the NBA playoffs this season.

Ryan Broekhoff is a baby-faced assassin.
Ryan Broekhoff is a baby-faced assassin.

Broekhoff’s deal with Dallas comes after reports last month that he was booked in to hold trials with multiple NBA clubs, including the Philadelphia 76ers, Washington Wizards, Minnesota Timberwolves, Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks.

Aussie Boomers star Matthew Dellavedova even made a public call for his team to strongly consider signing Broekhoff.

It’s not hard to see why the Melbourne product has been attracting so much attention.

Broekhoff is coming off another stellar season for PBC Lokomotiv Kuban in Russia’s top-flight league where he averaged 12.3 points and 5.5 rebounds per game while averaging more than 2.5 three-pointers per game, shooting at greater than 50 per cent from the perimeter.

It reportedly earned him big-money offers from a number of Euro League powers, but he had his eyes set on the NBA.

His deal with the re-building Mavericks will allow him to join a roster with Dream Team star and All Star DeAndre Jordan, who he clashed with during the heated Boomers-America game at the 2016 Olympics.

Broekhoff’s massive news was well received by his Boomers’ teammates.

According to reports in America, Broekhoff will travel to Las Vegas to link up with the Mavericks, but is not expected to suit-up for Dallas during Summer League instead he’ll wait until the start of pre-season training.

That wait will likely be agony for the excited Aussie, who confirmed the reports on Friday morning (AEST).

“After five years of hard work and dedication to my craft overseas, I am beyond humbled and thrilled to announce I am joining the Dallas Mavericks,” Broekhoff posted on Twitter.

“Having always believed in myself and my ability to one day make it to the NBA, today is truly special. Thankyou to my fiance Katie, family, friends and loved ones who have unconditionally supported me and my vision.

“I am ready to tackle this next challenge and do everything I can to help the Mavs win.”

Originally published as Australia has a new NBA player in Ryan Broekhoff

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/more-sports/australia-has-a-new-nba-player-in-ryan-broekhoff/news-story/caa59dd9d2b24c2910f1d51e69897b3d