Sydney Kings guard DJ Vasiljevic will have no fear letting his three-point shots fly when he heads over to NBA Summer League in July,while some Australians in the WNBL have been struck down by COVID-19 and the NBA finals are about to begin.
With key players missing,Jade Melbourne and Shyla Heal showed the future of the women’s Australian basketball team is bright in a hard-fought win.
Josh Giddey has missed out on being named in the All-Rookie first team,while NBL free agency has begun and the league is also looking at an aggressive expansion into Canberra.
The NBL is looking to use its success in Tasmania as a formula for a potential return to Canberra but only if a stadium deal can be reached,while Ben Simmons remains in doubt for the play-offs and the Boomers will play in Melbourne in late June.
Melbourne Boomers put the brakes on the Perth Lynx and claimed the WNBL championship with a game three win on Saturday.
Patty Mills has roared back to form with Nets coach Steve Nash praising the Australian star and Matisse Thybulle will miss Philadelphia’s trip to Toronto over vaccination status.
Kevin Durant has hailed Patty Mills as a ‘true sportsman’ after he was nominated for the NBA sportsmanship award while Tess Madgen has finally made her first WNBL grand final series and wants game one to start ASAP.
Melbourne United looked in trouble just two minutes into their clash with Adelaide on Sunday,when Matthew Dellavedova went off with an ankle injury,Chris Goulding felt for his hamstring and the Sixers were up on the scoreboard,but coach Dean Vickerman didn’t panic.
NBL commissioner Jeremy Loeliger says NBL sides will play in at least two NBA pre-season games later this year and the league hopes to book more games,while Ben Simmons may not feature for the Brooklyn Nets before season’s end.
In 2017,Kevin Durant faced a spiteful sell-out crowd in Oklahoma City after leaving the Thunder,so he knows what’s likely to come Ben Simmons’ way in Philadelphia.
Injured Australian star Joe Ingles has been traded to Portland,Josh Giddey on LaMelo’s All-Star path,and the Opals prepare for their World Cup qualifiers in Serbia.