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Andrew Bogut Hails Historic Night For Australian Basketball As Boomers Downed Team USA
The Australian National Team made history on Saturday night as they defeated Team USA for the first time in their ever inside Marvel Stadium in Melbourne, Australia.
The “Boomers” had never defeated Team USA at Nationals men’s level before Saturday, but all that changed as the boys from down under put together a remarkable and memorable performance for the ages.
Following Team USA’s fairly comfortable victory in the first of two exhibition games against the Boomers, no one could have guessed the turnaround just two days later as the Boomers were lifted by San Antonio Spurs guard Patty Mills, who dazzled for 30 points on the evening.
Mills was at the heart of everything good for Australia in front of a packed 52,000, and he along with NBA hardened Joe Ingles, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes caused the United States problem all night long.
A part from Mills, Bogut was especially good, as the veteran big man controlled the game on both ends of the floor for the green and gold despite being 34 years old and in the latter stages of his career.
After the famous victory, Bogut hailed the Australian fans, and was excited about where the game is heading in Australia moving forward.
The 7-foot Center told OpenCourt-Basketball this exhibition series could really continue to push the explosion for the sport on his home soil.
“Yeah, I mean especially with the events of the last two games, I mean there’s been some negativity with the fans being disappointed around with seats and all that kind of stuff but it’s a bloody football stadium made into a basketball court, I mean, I feel for families that have spent big money but at the same time there’s not much you know, the court’s elevated, they’re trying to get everyone to try and see the game, there’s some people hopefully that came tonight and really enjoyed that experience, and tonight well not only tonight but the past two games you’ve been apart of history. AFL, NRL, great, sensational, we’ve just got 52,000 in a football stadium for a basketball game and if I told you that 5 or 6 years ago it wouldn’t have happened. On-top of that we won tonight so I’ve never seen basketball at this height in this country I think it’s sensational we have to keep that momentum keep our kids and the grassroots and the investments our coaches are making and we’ve got to sustain that, I couldn’t be more proud to be an Australia basketball player right now.”
Australian basketball fans should be excited about the future of the sport in their country. The Boomers have just created history without some key names including Dante Exum, Jonah Bolden and the biggest of them all Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.
This victory could be the wake up call Team USA needed before they head to the FIBA World Cup in China.
The Boomers put the world on notice and for the first time in recent memory, Team USA looks as vulnerable as ever heading into a major tournament.
