Goorjian says NBL players vital to Boomers' qualifiers

Australian coach Brian Goorjian has emphasised how important NBL players are to the Boomers' FIBA World Cup Qualification window this weekend.

The Boomers, headlined by Hawks duo Sam Froling and Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, have three qualifiers this week, facing China on Thursday and Sunday night, and Japan on Friday night.

With 11 of the 12 players NBL representatives, they’re set to play a vital role in helping Australia punch their ticket to next year’s World Cup.

Goorjian believes players in this squad, including Jack White and William McDowell-White, could have the chance to break into the World Cup team if they impress in this qualification window.

“We need our top, top, top NBL players playing in this to get to where we need to go,” said Goorjian, who is also the Hawks' special advisor for basketball operations.

“This is a test, and I would like to reward a couple of these guys moving forward.

"I'm watching this very, very closely and there's nothing I’d like more than a couple of these guys to knock out a couple of the others.

“The top NBL players … this is an important window for them - it's important for our country that the NBL guys step up and represent.”

Goorjian heaped praise on the standard of NBL coaches, noting how prepared the players are and how quickly they have learnt the playbook.

“We've talked about what a great job Scott Roth has done … there's something that you want to put in and they've got a good feel for that, and that's the coach. He's a perfect example of that,” Goorjian said.

“What I walk away from is the guys that I coach against on a regular basis, they know what they're doing, and these guys have a good feel already for what we're trying to put in.”

Matthew Dellavedova headlines the team, alongside NBL teammate and rising star White. Adelaide 36ers captain Mitch McCarron and Perth Wildcats forward Todd Blanchfield, members of the 2017 FIBA Asia Cup-winning team, have also been included.

Sam Froling and Jack McVeigh make their second appearances for the Boomers having previously taken the court in the 2019 and 2021 qualification windows.

The team will have five debutants, with NBL veteran Clint Steindl and JackJumpers teammate Sam McDaniel named alongside championship winner Wani Swaka Lo Buluk, NBL22 Most Improved Player Keanu Pinder and New Zealand Breakers guard McDowell-White.

Coming off a season in the NBA G-League with the Long Island Nets, Thon Maker will make his return to the international fold.

FIBA WORLD CUP QUALIFIERS SCHEDULE:

Thursday, June 30: Australia vs China, 6:30pm AEST

Friday, July 1: China vs Chinese Taipei, 5:00pm AEST

Friday, July 1: Japan vs Australia, 7:30pm AEST

Sunday, July 3: Japan vs Chinese Taipei, 4:00pm AEST

Sunday, July 3: China vs Australia, 6:30pm AEST

Monday, July 4: Chinese Taipei vs China, 6:30pm AEST