Andrew Bogut
Jun 4, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut (12) dunks the ball over Cleveland Cavaliers guard J.R. Smith (5) during the fourth quarter in game one of the NBA Finals at Oracle Arena. REUTERS/Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Boomers will feature four Australian basketball stars including Golden State Warriors’ Andrew Bogut and Cleveland Cavaliers’ Matthew Dellavedova as they take on New Zealand at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena next month. Bogut and Dellavedova competed in a fierce NBA Finals in June with the former, along with the Warriors, winning the 2015 NBA championship.

Australia men’s national basketball team will also feature Utah Jazz’s sophomore guard Dante Exum and Chicago Bulls reserve Cameron Bairstow. Boomers will compete in two matches each in Slovenia and Lithuania on the tour, which runs from July 21 to August 5, before playing the Tall Blacks at Melbourne and Wellington on August 15 and 18 respectively. The series will be decided by games won, or if tied by the combined total points with the winners earning an automatic qualification for the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

San Antonio Spurs backup point guard Patty Mills, along with Utah Jazz’s Joe Ingles and Detroit Piston’s Aron Baynes, will miss the two-match FIBA Oceania Championship. Boomers head coach Andrej Lemanis admitted he was disappointed about Mills' absence, but also said that they “understand and respect his position” according to the reports of Sportal.com.au.

"As difficult as it is for us to leave Patty out of the team, at the start of our planning for this Rio qualification, the coaching staff agreed that it is vital that we undertake preparations for the Oceania Championships as a team to better understand how, as a group, we can embark on a successful campaign in Rio. Patty has a proud and passionate commitment to the Australian Boomers and I'm looking forward to working with him, Joe and Aron in our determined push for a long-awaited medal at the Rio Olympics,” Lemanis said as per Sydney Morning Herald.

Exum suffered a sprained ankle last week in NBA’s summer league, but should still be fit to play in August. Baynes, who was disappointed to miss the opportunity to sport the green and gold jersey, will miss the Olympic qualifier series due to minor ankle surgery, while Ingles rests from international play this year.

"My priority is ensuring that I am 100 per cent healthy for the Olympics next year, so I made the tough decision to get my ankle cleaned out this off season. Any chance to pull on the green and gold is something I cherish, so whilst I'm unable to play, I will be supporting the fellas throughout the campaign,” Baynes said.

Boomers’ lineup will also include David Andersen, Ryan Broekhoff, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, Nate Jawai, Damian Martin, Brock Motum, and Brad Newley.

For comments about the story, email the writer at kit.bernal1013@gmail.com

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