Boomers selection latest: Legend’s fears of ‘chaos’ as more emerges around shock Paris Olympic picks
Blindsided by his Olympic snubbing, NBA star Matisse Thybulle wasted no time getting out of Australia. Inside the Boomers’ brutal selection process and the fallout since.
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Australia’s ageing veterans must embrace reduced on-court roles at the Paris Olympics, otherwise a Boomers legend fears the campaign could blow up if egos aren’t checked at the front door.
Former Australian coach and captain Phil Smyth who believes the Boomers’ podium hopes hinge on a team-first focus as the fallout from a trio of bombshell selection decisions continues.
Multiple sources told Code Sports Joe Ingles, as late as Thursday, was in real danger of missing the chance of becoming a five-time Olympian as late as Thursday.
It’s understood selectors had a late change of heart on the 36-year-old Minnesota Timberwolves forward.
Bronze medal-winning veterans like Patty Mills, Joe Ingles and Nick Kay face vastly different roles in Paris, compared to the triumphant 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has already floated the prospect of Mills playing off the bench in Paris, with younger stars Josh Giddey, Dante Exum and Josh Green set to do the bulk of the heavy lifting.
Three-time Olympian Andrew Bogut is one who has called for Mills, who missed 12 of 13 shots throughout the two games in Melbourne and looked off the pace, to play a reserve role in what will be a fifth Olympic campaign.
Bogut says Mills and Giddey didn’t work defensively starting alongside each other during last year’s failed World Cup campaign, although Mills began that warm up campaign in similar slow fashion.
Goorjian poured cold water on any concerns over Mills’ form.
“He started that way last time but I’m more looking at him (in terms of) how’s he moving? and what’s his conditioning?,” Goorjian said.
“I just think the more he plays, he’s getting his shots, he’s active defensively, he’s quick as s**t, he hasn’t lost anything.
“He’s not shooting well, but I feel like he’s getting shots and (Josh) Giddey’s getting him the ball and I think there’s a better synergy between those two right now.
“He’s in a really good place, so I’m excited about him.”
It did not go unnoticed that Mills, after being subbed out of Thursday night’s win over China in the last quarter, donned a black jacket of one of his sponsors over the top of his Boomers jersey.
It caught the eye of the GOAT Andrew Gaze, who pointed it out during the ESPN broadcast.
“Patty Mills’ is certainly done, he’s got his puffer jacket on — not sure why he wouldn’t have the team jersey on, unless he’s gone off and had a quick shower, or something,” Gaze said.
“He’s had a tough night, 1-11 from the field, but that’s not going to deter him.”
Ingles and Kay are expected to have impact roles down the rotation.
Smyth was surprised to see the likes of Matisse Thybulle, Xavier Cooks and Chris Goulding cut from the squad but he still believes the Boomers can still create history and reach the podium in Paris as long as they collectively buy in.
“Without a doubt it is the most talented squad (ever), and, if the players can park their egos, they are in with a big chance,” Smyth said.
“But, if the egos come in and divide the group, then it will make them dysfunctional and that’s the truth.
“If they can get all the egos to play together, they have a good chance, but if they can’t it’s chaos.
“If it is a brotherhood at the Olympics then they have a really good chance to play for gold.
“If not, the egos will spoil their chances.”
CODE Sports has been told axed Portland NBA wing Thybulle is livid at being left off the team after he played a vital role in Tokyo, and he immediately boarded a plane on Friday bound for the US.
Many basketball greats have expressed surprise at some selections, including bronze-medal winning Boomer Nathan Sobey.
The new South East Melbourne scoring machine said he felt “weird” to learn his Tokyo teammate Thybulle had been left out and thought Goulding would be a shoe-in after he splashed eight three-pointers across the two games against China.
“I did think that Matisse would be part of that team, for sure, and the likes of Goulding, the way he shot it over the last couple of days in those games against China, gave him every chance to be that shooter coming off the bench,” Sobey told Code Sports at South East Melbourne’s business luncheon.
“Being in the four walls four years ago, understanding what that environment is like once you get there, once you’ve been around a guy like Matisse and understand what values he has towards a team, It’s a little bit weird when you first hear it (Thybulle left out), for sure.”
The 33-year-old can see the incredibly tough job Goorjian and the selectors faced when whittling the squad down from 17.
“It is definitely the toughest Australian team to pick so far,” Sobey said.
“So I feel for Goorj and the coaching staff and they have their intent on what way they’re trying to do things and how they’re trying to play and what they’re about and they think that the team they’ve put together is best suited for that.
“As much as we all want to sit around and say who should have been (in the squad) and who shouldn’t, I don’t really think we know inside the four walls.
“Everyone has a reason they’re in the camp and, from that, they’ve picked the team that they think is going to suit it best and I just wish them all the best.
“I can’t wait to see them go for that gold medal.”
The star shooting guard also thought it a brave decision from Goorjian to leave Xavier Cooks out of the Paris squad, given the pair had just agreed to combine as coach and star player for the next three years in Sydney.
“Usually, players that sign with coaches kind of head that direction — and there’s a reason for it,” Sobey said.
“It’s one of those weird things. We’ve never seen it before and it’s a hard cut because they’re going to be around each other a lot over the next few years or every single day for the next six months when they get into season.
“You don’t know how it will go, because we’ve never really seen it.”
Sobey was a shock Tokyo selection after initially being left off the squad.
Drafted in by Goorjian from outside the original squad after an MVP-level NBL season Sobey bolted into contention, using training camp to secure a spot in the 12 that would eventually make history.
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