Australian Boomers Team for Tokyo 2020 Named

Three players from NBL21 have been named in the Australian Boomers team for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic games.

Chris Goulding, Jock Landale (Melbourne United) and Nathan Sobey (Brisbane Bullets) join Australian NBA players Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matisse Thybulle, Josh Green, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum and Aron Baynes with the 12-man team rounded out by Duop Reath and Nick Kay.

Brian Goorjian's (Illawarra Hawks) coaching staff also includes former NBL players Matt Nielsen, Adam Caporn and John Rillie.

The Boomers training camp took place over the past week in Los Angeles, with the final 12-man team selected to take the court in green and gold later this month in Tokyo.

Goorjian pointed to the mix of experience and youth as a strength for the team.

“I’m really excited, we’ve got some nice youth coming into the team, and a good balance,” Goorjian said. 

“It's very clear what the goal is. It’s not driven from me, I’ve walked into it and it’s hit me in the face. That leadership group want a gold medal and if they don’t get it they’ll be disappointed. My job is to come in here and do everything I can to help them complete the vision. 

“It’s huge having that experience. I’m in a unique situation where I was part of the Boomers in Beijing with Patty and Joe to come back close to 12 years later and see what the culture has become – the first two days of practice I just took it all in. Where it’s gone in that time, through that leadership group with Delly, Baynes, Joe and Patty has been amazing to see.  

“Now you’ve got seven debutants coming in, the culture is unique and you can’t continue without that main group touching you. Being part of this culture, not only for this Olympics is it important, but for the future of Australian basketball, where you’re not starting from square one. So those guys being in this group is really going to help not only for Tokyo but beyond.” 

The Boomers' squad will now head to Las Vegas where they will join the Australian Opals to compete in exhibition matches before they make the trip to Tokyo. 

Australian Olympic Team:

Aron Baynes (Toronto Raptors)

Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Dante Exum (Houston Rockets)

Chris Goulding (Melbourne United)

Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks)

Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz)

Nick Kay (Shimane / Japan)

Jock Landale (Melbourne United)

Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs)

Duop Reath (Crvena zvezda / Serbia)

Nathan Sobey (Brisbane Bullets)

Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia 76ers)

Head Coach: Brian Goorjian
Coach: Matthew Nielsen
Coach: Adam Caporn
Coach: John Rillie
Analysis: Jacob Jackomas
Team Doctor: Brendon Aubrey
Physiotherapist: David Hillard
Physiotherapist: Paula Paralta
Head of Team Operations: Jason Smith
High Performance Manager: Jan Stirling