Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder and Will McDowell-White have been selected as part of the Australian Boomers World Cup squad ahead of this year's FIBA World Cup.
The trio of First Nations basketballers form part of the extended 18-man squad, which will take part in a training camp in Cairns in the lead up to the World Cup, before the final roster of 12 will be selected ahead of the team's opening game in Japan on 25 August.
Mills, a proud Muralag Torres Strait Islander man on his father's side and Kokatha Aboriginal man on his mother's side is one of 10 players currently on NBA rosters, the largest number of current Australian basketballers plying their trade in the NBA to feature in a Boomers squad.
Although Mills' output has dipped with the Nets this season, he is still expected to pay a pivotal role in the Boomers 2023 World Cup campaign.
In 14.2 minutes per game, the 6′0″ point guard averaged 6.1 points per game on the back of 41 per cent shooting for the Nets during 2022/23, before they were swept out of the playoffs at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.
Pinder's selection is his second for the Boomers after being part of the Boomers squad which won gold at the FIBA Asia Cup in 2022.
In his last two seasons with the Cairns Taipans the proud Nyul Nyul, Bunuba and Jabirr Jabirr man has gone from strength-to-strength.
He was named the NBL's most improved player for the consecutive year in 2022/23, becoming the first player to receive the award more than once.
Pinder averaged 16.9 points per game on 50 per cent shooting, collected 9.3 rebounds per game and dished out 2.3 assists, numbers which made him hot property as a free agent before the 6' 10" forward signed with his hometown Perth Wildcats.
It will also be McDowell-White's second time as a Boomer, following his selection in the Boomers team for the World Cup Qualifiers last year.
The Arrernte point guard averaged 10.8 points per game, 5.9 assists per game ands 5.2 rebounds per game for the New Zealand Breakers in the 2022/23 NBL season.
Australian Boomers head coach Brian Georgian said the extended squad has given his coaching staff "plenty of options" ahead of the World Cup.
"Pulling together this extended squad has taken time – it's been a thorough process. The coaches and I have had many discussions about getting the mix right, but I'm really pleased with where we've landed with the guys we've selected, there's a good balance across the court," Goorjian said.
Australia has been placed in Group E alongside Finland, Germany and Japan.
"After the draw took place around a week ago and we know who and where we're playing, we're excited and eager to get stuck in and prepare for what will be an extremely challenging tournament," coach Goorjian said.
Australia will open their 2023 FIBA World Cup campaign against Finland on 25 August.
Australian Boomers World Cup Extended Squad
Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Sam Froling, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Thon Maker, Will McDowell-White, Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White.
