The national basketball team of Australia has made significant cuts to its initial roster of 18 players as it gears up for the upcoming FIBA World Cup scheduled later this month.
The group has been narrowed down to 15 players who will continue their training camp in Cairns until Wednesday. Afterward, the team will move to Melbourne for a series of preparation games. Notably, Sam Froling, Thon Maker, and Keanu Pinder have not advanced to the Melbourne stage. Out of the remaining 15, the final selection will eventually be whittled down to 12 players.
Head Coach Brian Goorjian emphasized that this selection process stands as one of the toughest decisions during his tenure as the leader of the Australia.
Thon Maker coupΓ© de l'effectif de l'Australie – https://t.co/w85hR4EIcc pic.twitter.com/JflO0zMgXC
— Basket USA π (@basketusa) August 6, 2023
“This is an elite squad with so much talent, there is no easy way to make cuts, but the reality is that we only get to take 12 into Okinawa. Would I take all of these players if I could? Absolutely, but thatβs the hardest part of sport, you have to make the cuts, we have to keep moving forward,” Goorjian, who is also coach of the Bay Area Dragons in the EASL, told the NBL official website.
“I have the utmost respect for Sam, Thon and Keanu and their contribution here in Cairns, their work rate has been exceptional. On and off court they have demonstrated the highest level of professionalism.”
10 NBA players remain on the roster
The current roster of Australia boasts a total of 10 NBA players, including prominent names like Josh Giddey from the OKC Thunder, Patty Mills from the Atlanta Hawks, and Joe Ingles from the Orlando Magic. This lineup will partake in friendly matches against Venezuela, Brazil, and South Sudan in Melbourne on August 14, 16, and 17, respectively.
Thon Maker, notable for his involvement in a widely-publicized brawl with Gilas Pilipinas during a 2019 World Cup qualifier, has been left out. This decision means that Maker, 26, will miss the opportunity to play against his country of birth, South Sudan.
Maker, after a relatively unremarkable five-year stint in the NBA with the Milwaukee Bucks, Detroit Pistons, and Cleveland Cavaliers, transitioned to the European scene by joining Hapoel Jerusalem in 2021. Currently, he plies his trade for the Fujian Sturgeons in China’s professional league. The final 12-player roster is eagerly anticipated as Australia aims to make its mark on the global stage.