Okinawa-bound: A look at February's FIBA World Cup Asian Qualifiers Boomers

Who will be representing Australia later this month?

Credit: FIBA

With the NBA’s schedule leaving our usual stars occupied across FIBA qualifying windows that run across our summer, Australian basketball fans are used to Boomers squads that don’t resemble their Olympic or World Cup counterparts. However, due to the NBL’s persistence pushing through games later this month in an effort to make up for games lost due to COVID-19 challenges, available talent is scarcer than it used to be. As a result, a truly eclectic mix of talent both local and abroad has found its way towards consideration for the group’s upcoming three games.

The NBL @NBL

The @BasketballAus Boomers have named a 17 man squad ahead of the @FIBAWC qualifiers in Japan later this month. 7⃣ NBL players have been named as well as a number of Aussies playing abroad with NBL experience.

Headlining the group are a range of globetrotting Australian veterans plying their trade in both Europe and Asia. Most notable to NBL fans are former Perth Wildcats Nick Kay, Angus Brandt and Rhys Vague. Kay, the most credentialed of all available talent, is the only player to have represented Australia at either an Olympics or World Cup. A key contributor to the program’s first ever bronze medal finish at Tokyo, Kay will be leant upon, not only as the team’s best player, but also as an established veteran leader.

“I take any opportunity I can to play for the Boomers and am looking forward to taking on more of a leadership role. Hopefully my experience in Japan will be helpful and I can’t wait to get to know the young fellas,” Kay shared, via Basketball Australia earlier this week.

Kane Pitman @KanePitman

New for @ESPNAusNZ: From fringe squad member to playing a key role on the Boomers. I caught up with Nick Kay to discuss life in Japan, adjusting his game in the green and gold, Joe Ingles stories and much more. Full podcast chat🎙️ linktr.ee/ESPNPodcast espn.com.au/nbl/story/_/id…

espn.com.au‘Veteran’ Nick Kay ready to lead next-generation BoomersHe’s not yet 30, and has only suited up for the Boomers a handful of times, but Nick Kay is happy to have been labelled a ‘veteran’ after being named to help lead Australia’s FIBA World Cup Qualifiers campaign.

Both he and Brandt are known commodities, proving themselves to be starting level players during their time in the NBL before the duo both departed for the growing Japanese B.League, which will make the trip to the trio of Japanese-based qualifying games a short one.

Helping flesh out the front court will be former Sydney King Craig Moller. The now Germany-based forward represents s.Oliver Würzburg in the German Basketball Bundesliga, where he is averaging 7.5 points per game. Between he, Kay and Brandt, expect a defensively rock-solid front-line.

Rounding out the internationally-based talent is in the inclusion of former New Mexico State product Makuach Maluach. In his first professional season out of college, the 6’5 wing has been spending his time in Finland for Kouvot, with a late surge of strong play including the below 30-point outing.

Michael Houben @michaelhoub

A monster 30/5/5/5/2 line for Makuach Maluach on 11/15 FG and 5/7 3PT against Korihait. Athletically a tier above his comp in Finland, and great to see him shooting at a strong clip. 15.5 PTS, 4.8 REB, 1.8 AST, 2.4 STL, 0.9 BLK, 68.4% TS & 13-31 3P through his last 8 games.

Whilst more than half of those selected are currently signed to NBL rosters, teams understandably were not interested in parting with their star local players. Instead, younger and more immediately expendable players towards the end of NBL depth charts have been granted release to put on the green and gold.

Though the majority of names are on development player deals, there are two notable exceptions.