USA, Spain, France, Serbia expected to face Boomers & Opals Down Under next year

USA, Spain, France, Serbia expected to face Boomers & Opals Down Under next year

  • July 13, 2019
  • Dan Boyce
  • Podcasts
  • 0
  • 967 Views
Google Advertisements

While Basketball Australia are currently focused on staging highest attended basketball game in Australian history when the Boomers face Team USA next month, plans are underway to outdo that in 2020.

120,000 fans will attend a two game series between the two countries on Thursday 22 and Saturday 24 August 2019 at Melbourne’s Marvel Stadium but that number could be outdone next year with plans for a four nation tournament which would include both Australia’s men’s and women’s teams as well as three other elite basketball nations are being finalised.

It’s hoped the tournament would see Team USA return along with their women’s national team, as well as a number of high ranking European nations would take part in the tournament to be held in multiple cities down under in the lead up to the 2020 Olympics in Japan.

Executive General Manager, Basketball Paul Maley confirmed Basketball Australia are deep in discussions with a number of elite basketball countries about attending the event with would likely outsell the Australia Vs USA series next month in Melbourne.

“We’re in discussions with a while bunch of countries and we’re pretty confident that’s going to come together next year” Maley said on Aussie Hoopla podcast.

“Prior to an Olympics or World Cup, every country is looking for good quality practice matches to tune-up before every event… Interest from the European countries is very strong but the challenge we have is team’s which qualify for the Olympics won’t know they’ve made it until next February”

Although it’s too early for countries to confirm their inclusion in the tournament, USA, Spain, France, Serbia all currently have both their men’s and women’s teams ranked top five in FIBA competition, so it would make sense that all of these teams would be interested in a stop over in Australia for a pre-olympic tune-up, en route to Tokyo.

Maley noted the growth of the NBL and WNBL, the on going success of the NBLxNBA games, the number of Australian’s in the NBA and the results from the NBA Global Academy currently based at the Australian Institute of Sport all being major factors in elite international teams wanting to play games in Australia prior to the World Cup and Olympic Games.

“With Australia only one or two hours difference from China and Japan, Australia in general has some fantastic basketball facilities and the fan base makes it means we’ve got a lot of boxes ticked” added Maley

Plans for the tournament include staging an event similar to the FIBA Diamond Ball tournament which was held prior to the Olympic games in 2000, 2004 and 2008. The Australian Opals won the Diamond Ball in 2004 and the Boomers, who beat Yugoslavia for the gold medal at in 2000, will both be hoping they can deliver similar results, this time on home soil.

Paul Maley noted that holding events like these have become much easier to hold down under with ticket sales for next months Australia Vs USA match-up easily outperforming forecasts and expectations.

Basketball growth in Australia has resulted in a passionate fan base which makes these events far more financially viable than previous years.

“The trend amongst major Australian sports shows basketball is the only sport seeing growth over the past five years with the others remaining stagnant or declining.

Anytime you walk into a stadium they’re absolutely packed from first thing in the morning to late at night and studies are showing we’ve got 2-3 million Australia’s are saying they have a genuine interest in the sport, basketball has a lot of things going well for it right now” noted Maley.

Next months Australia Vs USA series will see 60,000 fans attend each game, blowing the 15,000 people who flocked to see these two teams in Melbourne in a pre-Olympic clash ahead of the Sydney Olympic games.

With the continued growth of the game down under, one can only imagine what type of attendance we could see for a four team tournament next year.

The full interview can be heard on the Aussie Hoopla podcast available wherever you listen to podcasts.

Current Team USA roster includes;

Bradley Beal (Washington Wizards), Anthony Davis and Kyle Kuzma (LA Lakers), James Harden, PJ Tucker and Eric Gordon (Houston Rockets), Damian Lillard and CJ McCollum (Portland Trail Blazers), Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors), Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks), Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics) Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz), Harrison Barnes (Sacramento Kings), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Tobias Harris (Philadelphia 76ers), Brook Lopez (Milwaukee Bucks), Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers), Paul Millsap (Denver Nuggets), Myles Turner (Indiana Pacers)

Current Australian Boomers roster includes;

Andrew Bogut (Golden State Warriors), Aron Baynes (Boston Celtics), Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs), Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz), Mitch Creek (Minnesota Timberwolves), Ben Simmons and Jonah Bolden (Philadelphia 76ers), Matthew Dellavedova and Deng Adel (Cleveland Cavaliers), Jock Landale (Zalgiris Kaunas) Brock Motum (Anadolu Efes), Xavier Cooks (Wurzburg ), Chris Goulding and Mitch McCarron (Melbourne United), Nick Kay (Perth Wildcats), Cam Gliddon and Nathan Sobey (Brisbane Bullets), Todd Blanchfield (Illawarra)

Dan Boyce (833 Posts)

Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.


Share:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Adam Caporn’s Vision for the Boomers: Merging Goorjian and Lemanis’ Success

    With Adam Caporn taking over as head coach of the Australian Boomers, the national team enters a critical phase in its evolution. A student of both Brian Goorjian and Andrej Lemanis, Caporn intends to build on their foundations, blending their distinct philosophies to create a balanced, adaptable, and high-performing team. In a recent interview with Aussie Hoopla, Caporn outlined his vision for the Boomers, his approach to coaching, and how he plans to shape the roster heading into major tournaments like the 2027 FIBA World…

    READ MORE
  • Luke Kendall on developing basketball in India, 2006 FIBA World Champs & Sydney’s 2005 NBL Title

    Former NBL player and current Casey Cavaliers head coach Luke Kendall joins the podcast to share his journey—from his junior basketball days to professional success and now a rising coaching career. Kendall developed under legendary coach Mike Dunlap at Metro State, where he won a national championship before moving to the NBL. He played for the Sydney Kings, Melbourne Tigers, Perth Wildcats, and Gold Coast Blaze, winning a championship with the Kings before injuries forced an early retirement. Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of…

    READ MORE
  • Larry Kestelman Says Geelong Deserves an NBL Team But Is Missing a Real Estate Component

    The possibility of an NBL expansion team in Geelong has gained momentum, with league owner Larry Kestelman confirming the city is a strong candidate—provided it can secure a suitable venue. However, much like we outlined in an article a number of years ago, How the Geelong Supercats could return to the NBL within 3 years, the missing piece isn’t just a stadium, but a real estate-backed development plan to make the project financially viable. Kestelman recently acknowledged Geelong’s growing basketball scene, citing record participation numbers…

    READ MORE
  • The Wollongong Hawks’ 2001 NBL Championship: The defining moment of an underdog’s rise

    There have been championship runs in the NBL defined by dominance and the sheer weight of talent that could overwhelm opponents before the ball was tipped. The dynasties of Perth, the star-studded reign of Melbourne, and the rise of Sydney’s financial muscle all tell tales of powerhouses that knew how to stay at the top. But there has only ever been one championship like Wollongong’s in 2001—a title won through sheer resilience, a team that had no business being there until they forced their way…

    READ MORE
  • If Dyson Daniels Doesn’t Win Defensive Player of the Year, It’s a Disgrace

    The Defensive Player of the Year (DPOY) award is supposed to recognise the most dominant defender in the NBA. If that’s the case, then Dyson Daniels should already have his name engraved on the trophy. But as the season winds down, there’s a growing concern that Daniels might get overlooked simply because he’s a guard. If that happens, it won’t just be unfair—it will be a disgrace. Daniels is Leading the NBA in Every Key Defensive Stat There’s no argument against Daniels’ defensive dominance this…

    READ MORE
  • Sydney Kings’ Xavier Cooks Faces Further Consequences After Positive Cocaine Test

    Sydney Kings captain Xavier Cooks has served most of his one-month suspension for testing positive for cocaine but may still face additional disciplinary action from his club. He was provisionally suspended in early February after returning an adverse analytical finding just two days before the Kings’ sudden-death clash against Adelaide. Basketball Australia later confirmed the ban, though the club initially cited “personal leave” as the reason for his absence. Despite the violation, Sydney Kings officials reportedly want to retain Cooks, who remains under contract for…

    READ MORE
  • NBL Free Agent Tracker

    Below is an up-to-date roster for each NBL team and a list of rumours and potential signings derived from discussions with NBL staff and media. Players listed as contracted come from information supplied by the National Basketball League. * = Denotes import player ** = Naturalised Australian DP = a member of the team's development roster SRP = the previously named Asian player exception denoting an Asian player who qualifies as a local in the NBL. MP = Marquee players listed as known Click here…

    READ MORE
  • How Aussie Hoops Is Vital For Asia Basketball

    The recent FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers in Traralgon showcased not just Australia's dominance in the region but also why Australian basketball is becoming an invaluable asset for Asian nations looking to grow their game. The Boomers' commanding victories over Indonesia (109-58) and Thailand (114-64) were not just displays of superior talent but reflections of an elite system that consistently produces world-class players. For Asian basketball federations seeking a model to learn from, Australia offers an ideal blueprint—one that balances elite player development, a thriving professional…

    READ MORE
sekolahtoto SEKOLAHTOTO SEKOLAHTOTO sekolahtoto

SITUS TOGEL

depo 5k

sekolahtoto

sekolahtoto

situs togel

situs togel

Sekolahtoto