My 2023 Squad at this stage is

Giddey
Exum
Mills
Green
Daniels
Ingles
Thybulle
Landale
Kay
Baynes or Humphries
Reath
Cooks

Go away. We are in mourning here.

This couldn't wait three days?

JFC - way too early.

Too soon

Way too early

But I would just say, for those who are writing the Boomers off and/or thinking about the future- Giddey will be a star. An 18 year old with that much talent and a good head on his shoulders, only injuries (or an agent giving him bad advice) will keep him from being a Boomers star for the next 15 years.

Patty and Ingles might have some left in the tank.

But with Giddey, Thybulle, Landale and Exum- (plus maybe Green who I haven't seen a lot of)- the Boomers should have a strong core for the next 4 major tournaments- 2023/24 and 2026/27.

Calling it early - Simmons ain't playing.

What happens in cycling is irrelevant to basketball as eligibility is dependant on the policies of the federation of each individual sport.

Jahlil Okafor played for USA in 2012 under 17 World Cup ( was MVP actually) now of course he is playing for Nigerian national team in these Olympics.
Though it's Nigeria and their rules are probably different to ours :)

My post may not be relavent to Simmons but worth noting a player has represented two nations, I'm sure other players have too.

Leroy Loggins was selected for USA team in 1980 who boycotted the Moscow Olympics but 12 years later played for the Boomers in Barcelona, again different circumstances.

Giddey and Humphries along with Simmons if available would be the key ins for 2023.

Who is his competition though? He doesn't exist in a vacuum.

Delly and Sobey will be fading.

The only other guys in contention are the NBL guys. Who is going to surpass him? McCarron? Norton? McDowell-White? Naar?

I would put a healthy amount of money on him being a fixture in the team for the entirety of his career. Using Exum as a comparison is hilarious, because the same applied to him despite not living up to his draft status. He's been a walk up start to the Boomers whenever he's healthy.

He narrowly missed the Olympic team as an 18 year old. Don't be daft. He's clearly in the 12 from this point on.

Mills plays exclusively as a 2 in the national team. He isn't moving to the 1 as he slows down.

Simmons has given no indication of playing yet, nor does his presence mean Giddey misses. Giddey has shown commitment to the cause.

No coach is going to turn down having a '6"8 playmaker on the team. You combine that with Simmons, Thybulle etc and you have a scary, switchable line-up.

What year will be in six months time? When is the World Cup?

I like that full squad above but surprised that Baynes did not get a vote, even in the "or" column.

We have Humph at the "big-banger" spot, but for mine Baynes, if healthy, has got to be part of the discussion. But, at whose expense?

What if Broekhoff is on-song?

And if Simmons gets another "chance", does Bolden?

Simmons will probably get another chance, he also still plays in the NBA.
Bolden does not.

By all means let's give Simmons and Bolden and Daniels and co the opportunity to try out for the Boomers, as long as it’s recognised that it’s an opportunity not a commitment.

If they fit into the culture (which includes on-going commitment and acceptance of whatever roles are required), provide important skills and are good enough across a wide range of skills, then you would expect them to have an excellent chance of playing for Australia.

I think we can safely assume Giddey will make the next Boomers team. lol. He was already one of the best guards in the NBL when they left so I doubt he gets superseded by an aging Delly and a not-very-good-anyway Sobey.

Bolden probably needs to resume basketball activities in some form before thinking about the Boomers

Great looking roster.

6'8 Giddey-6'5 Exum
6’0 Mills-6’6 Daniels-6’5 King
6’5 Thybulle-6’5 Green
6’10 Simmons-6’9 Kay-7’0 Maker
6’11 Landale-6’11 Humphries

Good to see that Simmons is listed as a forward. We all know and expect him to PG as well which is excellent (internal) insurance to cover Giddey and Exum

Some-how, I would like to see any of White pf, Cooks pf, Magnay c, Reath c, included.

I find it more than difficult to admit that Magnay isn't a certainty as a 4. He started his career well, very well. Developed and had a great "coming-of-age" season at Bullets that saw him get a chance at the NBA. It didn't work out, he's back. But surely he can get that form back over the next year and a half to two years. It's not as though he's aging, had serious injuries, has bad attitude. He has had 1 chance, with 1 team that decided that they did not want him over others they wanted more. Sorta like in the Boomers. We can't fit everyone in. But the form he took to the USA (and seems to have left there) would be valued in the Boomers. But who makes way for any of the reserves.

White is another one. Instant, high-level impact in the NBL displaying excellent skills and exceptional IQ. If Simmons is required at PG, reckon White would be a good replacement. Not to do what Simmons does, Simmons is still there and can do that himself, even from the PG position.

Saddens me that you "Cant see these guys, Delly 33, Sobey 33, Broekhoff 33, Ingles 36 and Baynes 37 making it". Baynes in particular. Half expect the others to wind down their exceptional service in the Boomers, but Baynes? He has done nothing to warrant his omission. Possibly our best and most experienced Centre after Bogut. Does this mean that the injury has finished his career?

I wouldn't be betting against Ingles on the team. Assuming he's playing in 2 years - my guess he is - then the back up SF spot is his to lose and I don't see Mojave King leap frogging him for it.

As for Baynes, he'll be a bit older. the difference between Baynes and Ingles is there are a few replacements for Baynes - Humphries espeically - whereas I dont think too many guys in our squad can do what Ingles does.

I'd want to see King and Green contribute in the NBA before really locking them in.

Goorj said in a webinar today he expects all 12 guys from this year's team to be in contention for the 23 worlds and 24 Olympics and expects Joe and Patty to be there