‘The fire becomes greater’: Boomers burning for world cup gold in August

Australian Boomers forward Nick Kay has had a taste of international glory, now he and NBA-based teammates want to win gold at the FIBA World Cup in August.

Kay and the locally based Boomers completed Asian qualifying with resounding wins over Bahrain and Kazakhstan in Melbourne over the weekend and as he posed for photos and signed autographs after Sunday’s game, the Tamworth-raised big man quickly turned his sights towards the nation’s first gold medal in men’s basketball.

Nick Kay celebrates after the Boomers beat Kazakhstan on Sunday.Credit:Getty Images

Winning the bronze medal in Tokyo was a watershed moment but the desire to win gold has only grown stronger since Patty Mills scored 42 points to lead the Boomers to a historic medal.

Kay, who plays in Japan, led a Boomers side which mostly featured NBL and Asian-based players to an 11-1 record and direct qualification for the world cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia starting on August 25.

“Growing up I thought if I just made it to an Olympics I would be happy, then you get there, win a bronze and that fire just becomes greater,” Kay said on Sunday.

“Now it is like ‘What can we do to win that gold? What can I do?’. I can’t imagine what that joyous occasion would be like, I just hope we get the chance to do it this year.”

Nathan Sobey drives past Roman Marchuk of Kazakhstan.Credit:Getty Images

The Boomers used 37 players and four different coaches throughout the campaign, with their NBA players unable to play when in their season.

But when the team is assembled for camp in August, it will likely have Mills, Josh Giddey, Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova plus other US stars in uniform and head coach Brian Goorjian in charge.

Kay has been a key player at the 2019 world cup and Tokyo Olympics, filling vital minutes at power forward and centre, and he said the NBA-based Boomers have kept in touch with their local colleagues.

“I think Australian basketball is in such a good place as those leaders like Delly, Patty and Joe they do reach out and say congrats on the game, or good luck this week – it doesn’t take much but it is them going out of their way to show support,” Kay said.

“They are still involved and are watching. It makes you want to go the extra mile and for the young guys in the group, they see that and will carry on that connection as they come through.”

Todd Blanchfield takes a shot for the Boomers.Credit:Getty Images

Melbourne United coach Dean Vickerman coached the side through the weekend’s games, while Kay and Nathan Sobey were the only players from the Tokyo Olympics in uniform.

But Kay admitted the toughest months are the ones coming up as the NBA, European and Asian seasons come to a conclusion and the Boomers watch each other’s games and hope everyone remains healthy and able to suit up for the world cup.

This group will also likely have a few younger faces with Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Josh Green and Jack White all making strides in the NBA, while the likes of Xavier Cooks and Will McDowell-White have made a strong impression in the NBL.

There also remains uncertainty around whether Ben Simmons will be available to play his first game for the Boomers since 2013, while key players Jock Landale, Matisse Thybulle and Ingles will need to navigate NBA free agency starting in July before they can lock in with the Boomers.

There is also the world cup draw on April 29 which will dictate which group and which host country the Boomers will play their group games in.

“It is tough as you don’t know what is going to happen,” Kay said. “You hope everyone is healthy and you look at what other countries are doing.

“All you want is what is best for the country whether you are involved or not. I’m going to go out and give my all to make that team and find a role to help the team.

“If I’m not a part of the team, then I’ll be watching, cheering my butt off for whoever is there and hoping they get the win. That is the buy-in that is the Boomers’ culture.”

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