Basketball news: Boomers stars commit to World Cup, Lauren Jackson open to playing on

Australia is set to field its strongest World Cup team ever with a host of NBA stars putting up their hand to play for their country. And there is hope Ben Simmons could join them.

Australia’s NBA contingent have put their hands up to play at next year’s World Cup, leaving selectors with a tough task to cut the deepest Boomers squad in history.

The Logue Down column can reveal the likes of Patty Mills, Jock Landale, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels and last year’s rookie sensation Josh Giddey have all committed to donning the green and gold at the Cup.

It comes as Australian coach Brian Goorjian is set to reach out to the Boomers’ NBA players to see who is available for next year’s tournament.

There is also hope that Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons could finally play for Australia.

Simmons is yet to represent the Boomers at the senior level after withdrawing on multiple occasions due to his NBA commitments, but officials remain optimistic that he will commit to the Cup given he is playing alongside Australian veteran Mills at the Nets.

Patty Mills and Australia celebrates winning the Bronze medal playoff Basketball game between Australia and Slovenia at the Saitama Super Arena during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics. Picture: Adam Head

Basketball Australia has also received strong commitments from up to a dozen NBL players, European-based players like Dante Exum and rising stars, including Sydney-born guard Tyrese Proctor, who is impressing in US College for Duke.

Proctor, who made his Boomers debut in World Cup qualifiers earlier this year, is considered the program’s future alongside players like Giddey and Daniels.

Basketball Australia will name a 24-man World Cup squad after the second qualifier against Kazakhstan on February 27.

The team will then assemble for a training camp, with the USA being considered as a destination, before the squad is reduced to the final 12-man roster for the World Cup in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines from August 25 to September 10.

OKC Thunder guard Josh Giddey has put his hand up to represent the Boomers at next year’s World Cup. Picture: NBAE Justin Tafoya/Getty Images/AFP

The greatest Boomer, Andrew Gaze, believes the Australians are in a strong position to medal at the World Cup, although he concedes it won’t be an easy job to reduce the squad to 12.

“We have incredible depth and with all those players putting their hand up, there are clearly going to be some extraordinarily talented players that miss out on the World Cup squad,” Gaze said.

“It’s hard to compare eras, but when you look at the profiles of the current players it’s the deepest Boomers squad.

“We’ve got guys in the NBA, Europe and here in the NBL.

“It’s going to be a real challenge for Goorjian and the coaching staff to figure out what their best combinations are, but it’s really exciting that we are now in a situation where people are really wanting to be a part of the program.”

POSSIBLE 2023 BOOMERS WORLD CUP SQUAD:

Patty Mills, Josh Giddey, Jock Landale, Aron Baynes, Xavier Cooks, Joe Ingles

Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green, Dante Exum, Nick Kay, Dyson Daniels and Jack White

LAUREN JACKSON’S SHOCK CAREER MOVE

Australia’s greatest basketballer Lauren Jackson has left the door open to extend her WNBL swan song beyond this season.

Jackson has signed a one-year deal with the Southside Flyers in her first appearance in the WNBL since a chronic knee injury ended her stint with Canberra in 2016.

It’s widely tipped that the legendary 41-year-old will hang up the sneakers after the current season, but she isn’t so sure.

“You know I’m really reluctant to say that this is (my swan song) just because of what has happened (this year) with my comeback,” Jackson told News Corp at the launch of the 2022/2023 WNBL season in Melbourne on Wednesday.

“Realistically it probably is, but I don’t know.”

The WNBL season will feature eight Australian Opals players who won a bronze medal at the recent World Cup in Sydney.

Jackson believes it’s the perfect opportunity for the public to watch our Opals stars on home soil.

Lauren Jackson celebrates after playing her final Opals game during the 2022 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup third place match between Canada and Australia. Photo: Kelly Defina/Getty Images.

“Jackson. Jackson. Jackson!”

Re-live all the highlights from the 🐐’s incredible final outing in the green and gold 💛💚

📊: 30pts, 7rbs, 2stl, 1blk#WeAreBasketballpic.twitter.com/yxEZnYKuaR

— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) October 1, 2022

“I think the momentum off the back of the World Cup is enormous,” she said.

“Even in the pre-season games we’ve played we’ve had so much interest, so I do anticipate that the momentum will continue.

“People have now seen women’s basketball and what it means, so who knows it might be the best season ever.”

SOTTO ON NOTICE:

Adelaide 36ers coach CJ Bruton revealed he has put Filipino NBA prospect Kai Sotto on notice following a substandard pre-season.

Thankfully, Sotto has responded, but Bruton wasn’t happy with the big man in the pre-season.

“Everyone thought he was going to come back and be a starter, I didn‘t see the guy for six months of the off-season until he came back a few weeks beforehand,” Bruton told this week’s episode of The Basketball Show.

“The improvement of my team to the improvement of Kai wasn‘t on the same par, but I didn’t go air that to all of everybody, but he is developing in the right way and I think he’s really going to help us over the next month or so.”

"If anyone tells you they haven't had any challenges they are lying to you" - a candid CJ Bruton on getting the new faces at @Adelaide36ers to buy into team philosophy as we go In-Depth thanks to @2K_ANZ
Full Ep https://t.co/KEjOiyC5wX@TheTiserSport@[e-mail]/Tif0XojDeG

— The Basketball Show 🇦🇺 (@BasketballAu) October 26, 2022

Sotto has played 14 minutes in NBL23 and has amassed four points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

The 36ers receive pressure to play Sotto, especially from the Filipino faithful, but Bruton insists he must earn his stripes through performance.

“As a team we need to go and win the game, to not just putting him out there for Kai Sotto to tick over boxes,” he said.

“I‘m not here to hurt the kid, I care for this kid and getting better and getting to his goal, which is ultimately playing in the NBA.

“Yes, you do need to take the floor a little bit more, I need him to keep impacting the 36ers the right way that I need for us to be successful.”

LIKE:

Everyone loves a good sledge and the Sydney Kings have nailed one after designing a T-shirt with a picture of star Xavier Cooks dunking on Melbourne United big man Isaac Humphries.

The Sydney Kings have designed a T-shirt with a picture of star Xavier Cooks dunking on Melbourne United big man Isaac Humphries.

The iconic dunk from the Kings’ round 2 win over United has dominated hoops talk for weeks – and Sydney wanted to ensure the moment lived on.

DISLIKE:

It’s heartbreaking to see two-time Team USA Olympic gold medallist Brittney Griner have her appeal denied by a Russian court, paving the way for her to serve nine years in a penal colony for the possession and smuggling of less than a gram of hashish oil.

This makes me feel sick🙏🏼 https://t.co/DpPeoKhewl

— Shane Heal (@ShaneHeal) October 26, 2022

The decision has justifiably been globally condemned as the US government maintains its stance that Griner is wrongfully detained.

Griner has now been detained since February 17 despite the best efforts of the government and her teammates to reverse the decision.

SHOOSH:

South East Melbourne Phoenix star forward Mitch Creek is managing a foot injury, is selective in his sessions has been seen limping around training, but he is bravely playing on and dropping big numbers.

Originally published as Basketball news: Boomers stars commit to World Cup, Lauren Jackson open to playing on