Bogut: Expect more Aussies in NBA

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FOUR Australians in the NBA still is not enough according to our most successful current player, Andrew Bogut of the Golden State Warriors.

But it's a good start considering all four - Bogut, Patty Mills and Aron Baynes (at San Antonio) and Matthew Dellavedova (at Cleveland) - are playing important roles on their teams.

No, none has played on a triple-championship winner such as Luc Longley with Chicago Bulls in 1996-98, but they all have started for their respective teams and aren't just training fodder gathering moss at the deep end of a bench.

In fact Bogut, who in 2005 became Australia's first NBA No.1 draft selection, is a regular starter for the Warriors but there was history made this month when he walked onto the floor against San Antonio.

With the Spurs resting playmaker Tony Parker and veteran forward/centre Tim Duncan, Mills and Baynes both joined Bogut for the opening tip.

Patty Mills hugs Spurs teammate Marco Belinelli. (AP Photo/Ben Margot) Source: AP

That meant not only did three Australians start together in the same NBA game for the first time, but with Bogut and Baynes taking the opening jumpball, two Aussies touched the ball first.

It tipped to Mills.

"It was an unbelievable feeling to start an NBA match alongside two other Australians," an elated Mills blogged.

"I don't think any of us realised what was actually occurring until just before tipoff.

"I got told earlier in the day that I was starting and I knew Aron Baynes was going to as well.

"We walked out on court together and I saw Andrew Bogut out of the corner of my eye and went up to him to wish him luck and all of a sudden it started to sink in what was happening.

"There were three of us Aussies starting the match and it was really special to be involved in what was a first for Australian basketball."

Matthew Dellavedova drives to the basket against Miami Heat. Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images Source: AFP

Dellavedova has been the inspirational story of the season, going undrafted and working his butt off through training camps and the summer pro league to prove he was worth a shot at "The Show".

Eventually given a roster spot at the far end of the bench, the Maryborough junior worked his way up and has now been a starter in three separate games.

After a particularly galling Cleveland loss to Washington late last month, Cavaliers coach Mike Brown singled Dellavedova out for praise.

"We didn't compete. We had one guy compete the entire time he was on the floor - Matthew Dellavedova," Brown said.

A week ago in Milwaukee, Dellavedova's Melbourne-born (but US-bred) teammate Kyrie Irving went off for 39 points in a gutsy road win.

Luc Longley attempts to stop Dikembe Mutombo. AFP Source: AFP

"The game went into overtime and we managed to get the win," Dellavedova said.

"Kyrie had 39 points after being in bed for a few days with the 'flu.

"The atmosphere was electrifying with 19,000 people in attendance."

Currently Cleveland is a couple of wins short of an Eastern Conference playoff berth but over in the Western Conference, the Aussies are pencilling in playoffs.

Last season, Bogut's Warriors took San Antonio to a tough six-games in their best-of-seven Western Conference semi final before the Spurs went on to contest an epic championship series against Miami Heat.

That went the full seven games before the Heat prevailed and took Mills and Baynes within a Ray Allen three-pointer of joining Longley and Andrew Gaze with NBA championship rings.

San Antonio currently has the third-best record in the West and Golden State also is looking at a return to the post-season.

Teen sensation Dante Exum is the next big thing in Australian basketball. Picture: Jason Edwards Source: News Limited

"Having four Australians in the NBA is a fantastic achievement but we shouldn't be satisfied until we reach double figures," Bogut blogged.

"We are probably going to have some high draft picks in the coming draft (so) it is certainly something to aim for.

"At the moment we are definitely batting above our weight. If we can get a few more guys in the NBA in the coming years we can push for becoming the second biggest country in terms of contribution of players.

"That would be a fantastic achievement for a small country like Australia.

"Spain currently have the second most players in the NBA, but I think they only have six, while countries like Brazil also have a similar amount.

"To have more NBA players than these other countries is definitely something that should be a goal of ours.

"It is not just a numbers game. The more players we get in the NBA should help with exposure back home and get basketball back to where it belongs."

The NBA has its eyes on Canberra schoolboy Dante Exum, the irony being if he is drafted by Philadelphia 76ers.

The Sixers are coached by Brett Brown - no, not an Aussie - but a man who cut his coaching teeth in Australia, married an Australian and coached Australia at the London Olympics.

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