NBA stars Bogut, Dellavedova in Boomers squad
MELBOURNE (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - A couple of players that squared off against each other in the NBA Finals, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova, have been named in Australia's squad for
MELBOURNE (2015 FIBA Oceania Championship) - A couple of players that squared off against each other in the NBA Finals, Andrew Bogut and Matthew Dellavedova, have been named in Australia's squad for the FIBA Oceania Championship.
Bogut, who captured the NBA title for the first time when the Golden State Warriors beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in last month's Finals, is to play for his country for the first time since the 2008 Olympics.
The 30-year-old had some big moments during the regular season and the playoffs.
Dellavedova made his Olympic bow three years ago at the London Games while still a player in American college basketball with the St Mary's Gaels.
He went from reserve to the starter in the NBA playoffs following an injury to Cavaliers star Kyrie Irving.
BOOMERS| Well said by Boomers coach, Andrej Lemanis. More on the 2015 Internationals team here http://t.co/pKgIFVfUQX pic.twitter.com/Zv3KFovVqs
— Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) July 14, 2015
The other two NBA players in the Boomers squad will be Dante Exum of the Utah Jazz and Cameron Bairstow of the Chicago Bulls.
Both played at the FIBA Basketball World Cup last year in Spain and are coming off rookie campaigns in the NBA.
Coach Andrej Lemanis is to take the 12-man squad he has selected on a tour of Europe before returning Down Under and taking on the New Zealand Tall Blacks in the FIBA Oceania Championship, with the opening game of the series to be played in Melbourne on 15 August and the second in Wellington three days later.
You will see a group that’s prepared to play together, to play for one another. - Lemanis
Several other members of last year's team will play for Australia this summer, but not leading scorer and rebounder Aron Baynes.
The 2.08m power forward had ankle surgery recently and will have to be a cheerleader during the Oceania showdown.
He only just signed a contract to play for the Detroit Pistons.
"I'm very disappointed to be missing out on the upcoming series against the Tall Blacks," Baynes said.
"My priority is ensuring that I am 100 percent healthy for the Olympics next year, so I made the tough decision to get my ankle cleaned out this off season.
"Any chance to pull on the green and gold is something I cherish, so whilst I'm unable to play, I will be supporting the fellas throughout the campaign.
"Andrej has been great and I have no doubt the boys will do the country proud and get the job done."
Baynes' former San Antonio Spurs teammate, Pat Mills, will also miss the FIBA Oceania Championship.
Basketball Australia (BA) say that Mills was available for the two-game series against New Zealand but was not able to take part in the European tour, which will see the Boomers take on Lithuania in Klaipeda (29 July) and Siauliai (31 July), and Slovenia in Ljubljana (3, 4 August).
There have been concerns over the shoulder injury that knocked Mills out of the World Cup.
He had surgery and then rehabilitation and did not return to the Spurs lineup until late December.
According to Basketball Australia, Mills is continuing to have specialized rehab and training "to regain 100 percent health with his shoulder."
"We are obviously disappointed that Patty can't join us on the European Tour, and as a result, has been omitted from the team for this campaign, but we understand and respect his position," Lemanis said.
"As difficult as it is for us to leave Patty out of the team, at the start of our planning for this Rio qualification, the coaching staff agreed that it is vital that we undertake preparations for the Oceania Championships as a team to better understand how, as a group, we can embark on a successful campaign in Rio.
"The tour to Europe, playing against quality opposition, is critical in our preparations to beat New Zealand in August.
"Patty has a proud and passionate commitment to the Australian Boomers and I'm looking forward to working with him, Joe [Ingles] and Aron in our determined push for a long-awaited medal at the Rio Olympic Games in 2016."
Ingles played his first season in the NBA with Utah in 2014-15.
He decided long ago not to play for Australia this summer.
The side that wins the FIBA Oceania Championship will clinch a spot in the Rio de Janeiro Games and the team that loses will have a place in the FIBA Olympic Qualifying Tournament.
Australia roster for 2015 FIBA Oceania Championship: David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow, Andrew Bogut, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, Nate Jawai, Damian Martin, Brock Motum and Brad Newley.
FIBA