Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis has hosed down talk Matthew Dellavedova’s national team selection could be hurt by not playing regularly in the NBA.
The Maryborough-raised point guard has been unable to secure regular minutes with his Milwaukee Bucks this season and with a season and a half to go on his contract, some commentators have tipped the team to trade him.
Matthew Dellavedova isn’t concerned about his lack of NBA playing time.Credit:Paul Jeffers
But Dellavedova has kept a positive attitude and after injuries hit the team recently he has seen his minutes rise slightly.
Dellavedova has played at two Olympics and the 2014 FIBA World Cup with the Boomers and he also made himself available for two World Cup qualifiers in July and August despite being offered the opportunity to sit out.
Lemanis was asked if Dellavedova's lack of minutes could cost him his place when time comes to select the team for next year’s FIBA World Cup in China.
"'Delly' has a body of work with the Boomers already," Lemanis said on Wednesday.
"So he’s someone who absolutely loves playing for Australia and is 100 per cent committed.
"If he is healthy and available for selection I’m sure he is a pretty good chance to be selected."
Dellavedova was asked by media in Milwaukee earlier this week what attitude he was adopting to handle being left on the bench and he replied that he would always remain ready to play and would not drop his head.
"I mean, I’ve seen other people go the other direction, you know?" Dellavedova said.
"But I feel like my biggest strength is just being able to stay with it and keep working consistently over a long period of time. That’s how I got to the NBA and have had success in the NBA.
"Having that formula and seeing it work so many times before whether it’s with the Aussie national team or in the NBA, that gives me confidence to know that if I just keep working eventually it will work out."
The Boomers could have a team filled with NBA talent for next year’s FIBA World Cup although Lemanis pointed out that injuries, contracts and other issues could always force players to miss.
Australian star Ben Simmons remains the most uncertain player on the Boomers' roster as he could be dealing with both contract extension and shoe endorsement talks this off-season unless the Philadelphia 76ers and Nike quickly lock him into long-term deals.
The NBL-based Boomers have steered the team through Asian qualifying and can lock in a place at next year’s World Cup with a win over Iran at Margaret Court Arena on Friday night.
Iran and the Boomers both sit among the likely qualifiers. The Boomers are on top of their qualifying group with a 7-1 [win-loss] record, while Iran sits second at 6-2. The top three teams in the group qualify.
"Everyone is well aware that the reality is that no matter how many players we have in the NBA, not all of them will be available, something always happens and history shows this," Lemanis said.
"Someone gets injured, someone has an issue with a contractual situation which means they are unavailable to play, sometimes their clubs want them to sit out. It’s just a reality.
"So given that, there will be some NBL players that make the team whether it’s one spot or three spots and those spots will present and the ability to put your case through this campaign will serve in good stead to take that opportunity as it arises."
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