How Nick Kay's experience in Europe and now Japan has made him invaluable to the Boomers

Following another strong outing with the Boomers in his first Olympic campaign, Nick Kay has remained a figure of consistency for Shimane Susanoo Magic in the Japanese top flight.

Credit: FIBA

The last two years of basketball have been good for Nick Kay.

After securing a second consecutive NBL championship and First Team honours with the Perth Wildcats following a World Cup debut in the previous year, Kay left domestic shores to embark upon his first professional venture outside of Australia and New Zealand, ahead of a postponed Olympic campaign and an opportunity to consolidate his standing in the national team setup.

While in Spain with Real Betis, Kay was locked in a tight knit relegation battle, which resulted in the seemingly inevitable managerial turnover, personnel changes and pressure to remain in the domestic top flight. Betis finished the season 11-25, which, while perhaps not attractive, was enough to steer clear of the drop zone and secure the club another season in the ACB.

Despite the changes swirling around him, Kay managed to remain productive in a role likened to that of his with the Boomers: hit open shots, set hard screens, play strong defence and provide all the intangibles that keep him in the coaches’ good books.