Goulding's emotional 'Delly' tribute

Over the last decade, it’s fair to say that each time a Boomers campaign begins, it is more competitive than the last.

The talent pool continues to develop and grow, and on the back of that breakthrough medal in Tokyo, expectations have never been higher. 

That brings with it an even stronger desire from most, to be able to pull on that green and gold jersey at a major tournament when the opportunity presents.

As the Boomers began preparations for the upcoming FIBA World Cup, 18 players descended on Cairns to try to make that final 12-man roster.

One such player, a bronze medal winner and veteran of the last four major tournaments dating back to the 2014 World Cup in Spain, is Chris Goulding. 

With five cuts already made, Goulding is one of the 13 remaining players who have travelled down to Melbourne, ahead of three warm-up games this week at Rod Laver Arena.

Goulding, who spoke with NBL Media on Friday morning, was excited to be in a Boomers environment again up in Cairns.

“It was great,” he said. 

“They’re always well organised, well thought out and well planned, the camps. We’re looked after really well. And then, from a basketball standpoint, you get some of the most competitive people from this country going at it for nine days. 

“There were some good hit-outs and we got some good work done, but there’s plenty more to still do.

“Whenever you come into a camp like that, things are quick, things are fast, there’re a few turnovers; guys are just going 100 miles an hour. So, I think as we progress, things will slow down a bit, we’ll space it a bit better, we’ll look after the ball better, once people figure out where they fit in more, as opposed to trying out for spots.”

There were a number of new faces in Cairns who have not represented Australia before at a major tournament. Every player there has put on a Boomers jersey before though, be it at FIBA qualifying windows or FIBA Asia Cup campaigns, but the likes of Sam Froling, Keanu Pinder, Dyson Daniels, Jack White and Will McDowell-White, had never been in contention for a World Cup or Olympic spot. 

This is where that famous Boomers culture gets leaned on, as it is important to integrate those new faces quickly, to get everyone on the same page and focused on that one, collective goal of chasing a Gold Medal.

“I think it’s very important and we do a good job of that,” Goulding explained.

“Everyone comes in a couple days early and the first few days are getting to know each other and really getting hit with the culture of it all nice and early, so there’s no wondering how to go about it, what we’re playing for, what we’re doing five, six days into camp. You know, bang, 48 hours in, this is what it’s about. 

“Josh [Giddey] was with us before Tokyo so he’s got a good idea about that, he’s ready to step it up. He’s impressive. The other guys, the style of basketball we’re playing is very similar to what the guys have been playing in the NBA offensive-wise. So, there’s not too much to fit in around, it’s more just getting familiar with teammates. 

“The big thing for us going forward is how do we build off what happened two years ago and use it as a platform, cos it was awesome, but we want bigger and better things.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Boomers squad have arrived in Cairns ahead of their warm-up games in Melbourne. We’re coming for you <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FIBAWC</a> ? <a href="https://t.co/WTflvzSfgV">pic.twitter.com/WTflvzSfgV</a></p>&mdash; Basketball Australia (@BasketballAus) <a href="https://twitter.com/BasketballAus/status/1685776446525243392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 30, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

The expectation is, given the injection of young, NBA-level talent into the mix, that this group can achieve more than in Tokyo. 

In many ways, this campaign is about that transition from the likes of Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova and Goulding, to this new generation led by Giddey, Daniels, Jock Landale, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, Xavier Cooks and Jack White. 

And that was part of the excitement for Goulding with what took place in Cairns, but it also reinforced what is most important when bringing groups together.

“It was spoken openly about that it’s a great time for the Boomers,” Goulding acknowledged.

“It’s an interesting time for coaches, because we’re seeing really tough decisions being made on the future of the program and it’s all going to happen to us at one stage or another; we’re going to get the tap and [they’ll] say ‘thanks for your service’. 

“I think the biggest thing and what this group has been about for such a long time, is leaving it in a better position than when you first came in and I think, to touch on Delly especially, it’s leaps and bounds ahead of where [it was] when he first came in, so I think that’s a testament to him, to his commitment to the program and everything he’s done for the Boomers and Australian Basketball. It’s tough, it’s emotional, it’s also the reality of our sport.

“When you’re a booming nation in a sport, there’s going to be so many kids in the NBA soon that are going to be vying for these spots and, as I said, it’s tough and emotional, but you’d much prefer to have it like that, than scrambling to get people to play for their country. 

“It’s a really positive position to be in.”

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Just thinking about what Delly has meant to Australian basketball... He made his name his own way and will forever be a legend!<br><br>He likely went to camp knowing he was a long shot, but instead would have wanted to make the next gen earn their stripes??<br><br>Keen to see him in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NBL24?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NBL24</a>!</p>&mdash; Peter Hooley (@PeterHooley12) <a href="https://twitter.com/PeterHooley12/status/1689594090583920640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 10, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Goulding has been part of four major campaigns with Dellavedova - the 2014 and 2019 World Cups in Spain and China, plus the 2016 and 2021 Olympic campaigns in Rio and Tokyo. 

They have been through highs and lows together. Disappointing moments like in Rio and China, but then the ultimate high of finally getting onto that podium two years ago. And while Goulding will also team with 'Delly' again at Melbourne United in NBL24, as they did in NBL22, it was not easy when his name was called as one of the most recent cuts made by Brian Goorjian.

“For me, it was emotional,” Goulding said. 

“Because, on one hand they’ve said: ‘you’ve progressed’, but it was hard for me to be happy knowing, kind of what else was going on. This is a guy that will play any time he’s asked against anyone, any window, whatever it is, and he’s done so since 2009. So, for 14 years of his career, he’s done everything that’s ever been asked of him by a program.

“So, emotional, tough, but he’s just like: ‘Well, okay, I’ll just get better and I’ll make it hard for them to not select me down the track’, and that’s just the mindset that Delly’s had. He wouldn’t have the career that he’s had if he didn’t have that mindset, so it’s a testament to him and his family and the way he’s built, because like I said before, he’s an exceptional example of an Aussie Boomer and has been for more than a decade. 

“And the program is so, so much better off for having Delly involved throughout the past 14 years and then whatever his involvement will be going forward, because someone that’s as committed as that, it’s not going to be the last that you see of him.”

So, while Dellavedova will not be suiting up in the warm-up games this week, or in Okinawa later this month when the World Cup tips off, Goulding and the other 12 players still vying to be on that plane to Japan, have this remaining time to figure out how they can be most effective.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">One of the NBL&#39;s all-time great coaches believes Chris Goulding&#39;s inclusion in Australia&#39;s FIBA World Cup squad should not be in doubt ?<a href="https://t.co/Fvxk9ZYkeP">https://t.co/Fvxk9ZYkeP</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1687411807965855744?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 4, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

That starts on Monday at Rod Laver Arena versus Venezuela and Goulding was pretty clear on what the focus will be at those games, and what they need to get out of them.

“Just an opportunity to play together as a group,” he said. 

“There’s still selection to be made. So, which lineups gel and work together? How can we play a Boomers brand of basketball? And Delly’s not there, so the things that he brought over the past however many years, that doggedness of ‘I’m just gonna pick up full court, I’m gonna make opposition teams’ lives hell’. Who’s going to step into that void and shoulder that role and say ‘Hey, I’m going to be this for the Boomers going forward.’

“So, there’s great opportunity for guys to come out and show what they can do for the program and great opportunity for us as a team to just have more court time together and hash out some things.

“Really, it’s about developing a mindset that once you hit Japan, it’s on. There’s no easy games, you’ve got to tie this thing together for two, three weeks, you can’t have a possession off. It sounds corny, but it’s so true because a possession can kill you in international basketball. 

“So, just building on that sort of mentality and showing early signs of how we’re going to go about it at the World Cup.”

The Boomers face Venezuela, Brazil and South Sudan at Rod Laver Arena on August 14, 16 and 17. Their first game of the World Cup is on August 25 in Okinawa versus Finland.