The Young Gun Eyeing Boomers Call-Up

Wednesday, June 7, 2023

Newly signed Brisbane rookie Josh Bannan is currently being put through his paces in the United States

Newly signed Brisbane rookie Josh Bannan is currently being put through his paces in the United States and is taking part in a pre-draft workout with the Indiana Pacers ahead of commencing his professional career.

Bannan currently sits outside ESPN’s mock draft predictions. Therefore, it could be assumed that should any franchise select him they would allow him to start his contract with the Bullets – similar to the ‘draft and stash’ approach the Cleveland Cavaliers have taken with Luke Travers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">“There is nothing I take more pride in than being from Australia.”<a href="https://twitter.com/MontanaGrizBB?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MontanaGrizBB</a> forward Josh Bannan discusses how playing college basketball helped his development and how proud he is to represent Australia.<a href="https://twitter.com/NerdWallet?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@NerdWallet</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GoldOnTheClock?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GoldOnTheClock</a> <a href="https://t.co/tCTBbc1Als">pic.twitter.com/tCTBbc1Als</a></p>— Indiana Pacers (@Pacers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Pacers/status/1666241059977064448?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 7, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

He’s currently part of the seventh pre-draft workout conducted by the side, and being tested alongside fellow collegiate prospects Marcus Bagley, Noah Clowney, Alex Gross, G.G. Jackson and J.T. Shumate.

While possessing the goal of making it onto an NBA roster, Bannan says pulling on a Boomers uniform at some point in his career would be the highest honour he could receive.

“There is nothing I take more pride in than being from Australia,” Bannan said. “To me there is no greater thing.

“My ultimate goal in basketball and one of the goals in my life is to represent Australia. I would take great pride in that opportunity.”

Bannan will begin his professional career following three years at the University of Montana.

After averaging just 8.6 points per game in his opening season with the Grizzlies, Bannan stepped that up to 15 points, 8.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game in his final year – on 49.9 per cent shooting from the field and 40.4 per cent from three.

He was also named to the Academic All-Big Sky Conference list in each of his three seasons with the school, for his performances in his Economics degree.

“I can shoot it, I can handle the ball, and I’m a really fiery competitor who will rebound and play aggressive,” he said.

“I cannot thank the staff at the University of Montana enough … all those coaches played a huge role in my development and helped me become a far better player than the day I set foot on campus to the player I am now.”

The NBA Draft commences on June 22, while Brisbane’s first game of NBL24 tips off against Adelaide on Friday, September 29.