By Eurohoops team/ info@eurohoops.net
The Australian Basketball Federation announced the 24 players that compile the preliminary roster of the national team for the 2021 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
The list includes NBAers Ben Simmons, Joe Ingles and Patty Mills. European basketball is represented by Galatasaray forward Brock Motum and Crvena Zvezda forward Duop Reath who receives his first national team call.
Former EuroCup champion and Finals MVP Matts Nielsen is an assistant coach on the team.
Per Australia Basketball:
Three-time Olympians Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz) and Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs) along with two-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers) headline the list of 24 athletes named in the Australian Men’s Olympic squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games by Basketball Australia (BA).
The Boomers Tokyo 2020 Olympic squad features seven athletes who competed at the 2016 Rio Olympics: Ingles, Mills, Aron Baynes (Toronto Raptors), Ryan Broekhoff (NBA Free Agent), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Chris Goulding (Melbourne United) and Brock Motum (Galatasaray, Turkey).
Five athletes are receiving their first call to the Senior Men’s National Team Squad including: Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks), Will McDowell-White (Rio Grande Valley Vipers), Will Magnay (New Orleans Pelicans), Duop Reath (Crvena Zvezda, Serbia) and Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia 76ers).
In total, the Australian Boomers Squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games includes 12 athletes with NBA experience, nine current NBL players and three athletes contesting strong European leagues.
Currently ranked #3 in the world, the Boomers will head into Tokyo looking to claim their first ever Olympic Games basketball medal and will do so under the tutelage of Brian Goorjian, who will this year attend his third Olympics as Boomers Head Coach.
In addition to Head Assistant Coach Matthew Nielsen (Head Coach, Austin Spurs NBA G League), Goorjian has retained 2019 FIBA World Cup Boomers Assistant Coaches David Patrick (Associate Coach, University of Arkansas) and Adam Caporn (Head Coach, BA Centre of Excellence Men’s program) for his Tokyo Olympics coaching staff. To assist coaches in their preparation, a support role of ‘International Scouting Coordinator’ has been added and Jacob Jackomas (Hawks Assistant Coach) will take on that position. It should be noted that BA is appreciative of the support and cooperation that the University of Arkansas have provided in enabling Coach Patrick to be involved in this Olympic campaign, the same with the Hawks for endorsing the involvement of Jackomas.
Upon announcing the Olympic squad for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, Goorjian said: “It is a well-balanced squad selected by position with a nice blend of experience coupled with a lot of new and exciting players coming through.
“These are our top 24 available players and included is significant representation from the NBL, showing the strength of our local league where the standard of competition is recognised worldwide.
“I have spoken to each player over the past fortnight and have been extremely impressed, to a man, by their overwhelming desire to play for Australia in Tokyo.”
One player that will be missing from the team heading to Tokyo is Australian basketball great and leading Boomers figure, Andrew Bogut who announced his retirement from basketball in December.
“My last experience with the Boomers was at the Beijing Olympics in 2008 when Andrew Bogut was part of the team and it is amazing how strong the green and gold culture has grown in importance to the players since then,” explained Goorjian.
“Even though we will miss not having Andrew suit up; the way he played; the kind of teammate he was; the leader he became; and his passion for the green and gold has had a profound influence on the development of the Boomers culture.
“Although Andrew is irreplaceable as a player, he has certainly left his mark and will be an important sounding board for the group and for me, as we make this journey to win Australia’s first medal.”
The Tokyo 2020 Olympics would be the fourth Games for both Patty Mills and Joe Ingles whom in a joint statement have said: “We are both excited to again be named in the Australian Boomers squad and we are determined to lead this group of both veteran experience and exciting younger talent to an elusive Olympic Medal”.
Upon being named in this Squad, Ben Simmons said: “It would be an amazing honour to play for my country. I know things are uncertain right now but I’ve been in touch with Coach Goorjian and we’re hopeful I can join the Boomers.”
The official 12-member Australian Olympic Men’s Basketball Team roster for the 2020 Tokyo Games will be announced by the Australia Olympic Committee later this year.
Commenting on the Squad announcement, the Australian Olympic Team Chef de Mission Ian Chesterman AM said; “I know both the Boomers and Opals have set themselves the highest goals for the Tokyo Olympics and it is exciting to see the squads showcase so much talent.
“The athletes have made a real commitment to be at their very best when the selected teams come together in Tokyo and I know Australians right around the country will be following their progress.”
Australian Men’s Tokyo 2020 Olympic Squad
| Squad Number | Athlete’s Name | Current Club |
| 1 | Deng ADEL | Hawks (NBL) |
| 2 | Aron BAYNES | Toronto Raptors (NBA) |
| 3 | Ryan BROEKHOFF | NBA Free Agent |
| 4 | Xavier COOKS | Sydney Kings (NBL) |
| 5 | Mitch CREEK | South East Melbourne Phoenix (NBL) |
| 6 | Matthew DELLAVEDOVA | Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA) |
| 7 | Dante EXUM | Houston Rockets (NBA) |
| 8 | Josh GIDDEY | Adelaide 36ers (NBL) |
| 9 | Chris GOULDING | Melbourne United (NBL) |
| 10 | Josh GREEN | Dallas Mavericks (NBA) |
| 11 | Isaac HUMPHRIES | Adelaide 36ers (NBL) |
| 12 | Joe INGLES | Utah Jazz (NBA) |
| 13 | Nick KAY | Real Betis (Spain) |
| 14 | Jock LANDALE | Melbourne United (NBL) |
| 15 | Mitch McCARRON | Melbourne United (NBL) |
| 16 | Will McDOWELL-WHITE | Rio Grande Valley Vipers (NBA G League) |
| 17 | Will MAGNAY | New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) |
| 18 | Thon MAKER | NBA Free Agent |
| 19 | Patty MILLS | San Antonio Spurs (NBA) |
| 20 | Brock MOTUM | Galatasaray (Turkey) |
| 21 | Mitch NORTON | Perth Wildcats (NBL) |
| 22 | Duop REATH | Crvena Zvezda (Serbia) |
| 23 | Ben SIMMONS | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) |
| 24 | Matisse THYBULLE | Philadelphia 76ers (NBA) |
Photo: FIBA