We are recalling all foreign players that ever have played in the League, telling about foreign championships and National teams of different countries in World basketball map project.
First on the list – Australia.
Population: 25,7 million
Players in the history of League: 8.
Full list of players: Ryan Broekhoff, Cameron Gliddon, Nathan Jawai, Daniel Kickert, Ater Majok (Sudan), Aleks Maric (Serbia), Matt Nielsen, Brad Newley.
The most recognisable Australian player in history of VTB United League is Ryan Broekhoff. Lokomotiv-Kuban ex-forward, born in Melbourne, outpace his compatriots in seasons in the league (3 seasons) and played games (78 games) in League. In 2017 Broekhoff represented World Stars team on All-Star Game.
3 former VTB United League players were born in most populated Australian city – Sydney (5 mln people): Nathan Jawai, Matt Nielsen and Aleks Maric, who returned to his home town after player career and became Sydney Kings head coach assistant. Besides, ex-center of Tsmoki-Minsk Ater Majok studied in American International School of Sydney.
It’s interesting that only two Australians managed to become VTB United League medalists. In 2011/12 season Nathan Jawai took silver medals with UNICS and Brad Newley took bronze medals with Lietuvos Rytas. In doing so, Matt Nielsen (Eurocup champion) and Ryan Broekhoff (Euroleague Final Four) are not League’s medalists but they succeeded in International basketball with Khimki and Loko though.
Basketball in Australia
League: National Basketball League
Founded: in 1979
Amount of teams: 9
League’s web-site: http://www.nbl.com.au/
National Basketball League of Australia tries to follow the NBA: each team has its own name (Hawks, Kings etc.), League has sponsorship contracts with large TV-channels, one foreign club (New Zealand Brakers from New Zealand), commissioner, Hall of fame, All-Star Game and similar individual awards.
There are former VTB United League players among owners of these individual awards. For Example, in 2007/08 season Loko’s ex-guard Dontaye Draper was the best Sixth player, in 2016/17 season former Azovmash and Loko guard Jerome Randle was League’s MVP, and in last season D.J. Newbill won DPOY award, he played for Avtodor.
The most titled club in the history of championship is Perth Wildcats. They got 10 titles, 4 of them were taken in last 5 seasons.
Interesting fact
In 1993 acting Khimki’s head coach Rimas Kurtinaitis played in Australian League. He became the first European in the history of basketball who played in Australia. The Lithuanian was Townsville Suns player.
Australia National team
FIBA rank: 3
FIBA members: since 1947
Achievements: Oceania champions (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015), Asia champions (2017)
Australian basketball National team debuted in international tournaments in 1956. It happened during home Olympic Games that took place in Melbourne. Since then, Boomers (that was Australia National team nickname) were Oceania champions 18 times but have never took medals on big competitions.
They were closer than ever to medals on Seoul Olympic Games (1988), Atlanta (1996), Sydney (2000) and Rio de Janeiro (2016). In all of 4 cases Boomers were fourth. In 1988 they sensationally beat Spain in quarterfinals (77:74) but then lost hard to Yugoslavia (70:91) and USA (49:78). In Atlanta and Sydney Australia lost bronze medals to Lithuania (74:80 and 71:89). In Rio de Janeiro they gave their medals to Spaniards on last seconds (88:89).
Moreover, Australian National team took 4th place on World Cup 2019 in China. Then, Boomers were stopped by Spaniards (88:95 OT in semi-finals) and French (59:67 in 3rd place game).
Most famous Australian players in history
Luke Longley. Legendary Chicago Bulls starting center in late 90-s and 3-time NBA champion. In 2006 Longley was included in Australia Hall of fame and now he is Australian National team head coach assistant.
Patty Mills. 2014 NBA champion as San-Antonia Spur and 4-time Oceania champion. In 2019 Mills was second best scorer on World Cup in China (182 points).
Andrew Bogut. 1st pick of 2005 NBA Draft, 2015 NBA champion as Golden State Warrior. Since 2018 Bogut has been playing for Sydney Kings.
David Andersen. Former CSKA center – 4-time Oceania champion and 3-time Euroleague Champion. Since 2018 Andersen has been playing for Illawarra Hawks.
Andrew Gaze. The most titled player in the history of Australian championship. Gaze was 14-time season scoring champion, 11-time NBL All-Star and 7-time tournament MVP. Morevoer, he is 1999 NBA champion (San-Antonio Spurs).
Honorable mentions: Joe Ingles, Chris Anstey, Ben Simmons.
Dmitriy Kolinov
