Ben Simmons' triple-double lands him Player of the Week award among Australians playing currently abroad:

We bring you last week's top performances from Australians who are playing abroad and who all have had prior experience of national team duties at youth or senior level.

Ben Simmons

   #1. This week's number one is former international point guard Ben Simmons (208-96, college: LSU, currently plays in NBA). He led Philadelphia 76ers to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (37-17) 110-103 in the NBA in Tuesday night's game. Simmons was MVP of the game. He had a triple-double by scoring 26 points, grabbing 12 rebounds and passing 10 assists in 43 minutes on the court. The Philadelphia 76ers have a solid 34-21 record this season. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Simmons' fourth year with the team. Simmons has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.9ppg, 8.0rpg, 8.3apg, 2.2spg, 2FGP: 58.5%(357-610), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 62.8% in 53 games he played so far. Simmons played for the Australian senior national team six years ago.

Thon Maker

   #2. Second place goes to former international forward Thon Maker (216-97, currently plays in NBA). He could not help the Detroit Pistons (19-37) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Maker's very good performance the Detroit Pistons (19-37) were defeated 116-112 on the road by the Orlando Magic. He was the second best scorer with 18 points. It's Maker's first season with the team. Maker's overall stats this year are: 4.7ppg, 2.7rpg, 2FGP: 60.2%(62-103), 3FGP: 33.3% and FT: 66.7%. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and South Sudanese. Maker played for the Australian national team in 2018.

Patrick Mills

   #3. The Australian player who performed third best last week abroad was an international point guard Patrick Mills (183-88, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA). He contributed to a San Antonio Spurs' victory against the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-22) 114-106 in the NBA on Tuesday night. Mills scored 20 points in 28 minutes. The San Antonio Spurs have 23-31 record this season. They ended the series of five consecutive loses. Mills is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his eighth year in Spurs' roster. He has very impressive stats this season: 11.7ppg, 1.6rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 52.4%, 3FGP: 39.0% and FT: 82.6% in 54 games. Mills is also a member of the Australian senior national team.

Angus Brandt

   #4. Center Angus Brandt (208-89, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Italy) helped Pistoia win their game against the 12th-ranked Grissin Bon RE (9-12) 86-79 in the Italian Serie A in Sunday night's game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 15 points and getting 16 rebounds. Pistoia Basket 2000 (2-2) is placed second in the Serie A. Brandt has relatively good stats this season: 10.7ppg, 7.9rpg and 1.4apg. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2018.

Mangok Mathiang

   #5. International center Mangok Mathiang (208-92, college: Louisville, currently plays in Turkey) was not able to help Acibadem (6-13) in their last game. Despite Mathiang's good performance Acibadem was crushed 100-79 in a derby game by the much higher-ranked (#3) Fenerbahce. He recorded 14 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 35 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Mathiang's third season in pro basketball. This year Mathiang has relatively solid stats: 11.9ppg, 10.6rpg, 1.6apg and 1.3bpg in 16 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and South Sudanese. Mathiang plays currently for the Australian national team.

Jock Landale

   #6. Center Jock Landale (211-95, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in Lithuania) helped Zalgiris win their game against one of league's weakest teams Nevezis (6-16) crushing them 92-63 in the Lithuanian LKL on Sunday night. He scored 8 points. B.C. Zalgiris Kaunas (2-0) is placed first in the LKL. Landale's overall stats this season are: 7.7ppg, 4.1rpg and 1.4apg. He is an international player who is currently on the senior Australian National Team roster.

Joe Ingles

   #7. International small forward Joe Ingles (203-87, currently plays in NBA) helped Utah Jazz win their game against the Dallas Mavericks (33-22) 123-119 in the NBA last Monday. Ingles scored 7 points, made 8 passes and 3 steals. The Utah Jazz has a solid 35-19 record this season. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Ingles has been at the team for six years. He has reliable stats this season: 10.0ppg, 4.0rpg and 5.2apg. Ingles is also Australian national team player.

Jonah Bolden

   #8. Power forward Jonah Bolden (208-96, college: UCLA, currently plays in NBA) helped Phoenix Suns win their game against the Golden State Warriors (12-43) 112-106 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. Bolden recorded 6 points, 7 rebounds and 2 blocks. It was his first game for Phoenix Suns this season. His team have 22-33 record this season. Bolden used to play for the Australian U19 national team back in 2013.

Dante Exum

   #9. Former international point guard Dante Exum (198-95, currently plays in NBA) managed to help Cleveland Cavaliers to win against the Atlanta Hawks (15-41) crushing them 127-105 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. He recorded 5 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. The Cleveland Cavaliers have rather weak 14-40 record this season. It was his team's first victory after six consecutive loses. Exum's overall stats this season are: 5.3ppg, 2.2rpg and 1.5apg. He used to play for the Australian national team four years ago.

Josh Wilcher

   #10. Point guard Josh Wilcher (178-91, college: Cent.Wyoming, currently plays in United Kingdom) was not able to secure a victory for Plymouth Raiders (2-9) in their last game. Despite Wilcher's very good performance Plymouth Raiders was crushed 116-91 in Worcester by the higher-ranked (#4) Wolves. He was the top scorer with 19 points. Wilcher also added 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 35 minutes. Wilcher has very impressive stats this year: 17.3ppg, 3.1rpg, 8.9apg and 1.3spg in seven games. He is a former international player as eleven years ago he still played for the Australian senior national team.

   #11. University international guard Jonah Antonio (196-97, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the UNLV (6-2) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Antonio's good performance his team were edged 82-79 in Reno by the The University of Nevada. He recorded 14 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists. Antonio's overall stats this season are: 7.3ppg and 2.3rpg. He plays currently for the Australian university national team.

   #12. University international forward Kyrin Galloway (203-99, currently studies in the States) helped UNCG win their game against the Samford University crushing them 95-67 in the NCAA in Sunday night's game. Galloway recorded 19 points and blocked 4 shots in 24 minutes. This year Galloway's overall stats are: 8.8ppg, 3.9rpg and 1.7bpg in 21 games. He is also in the roster of the Australian university national team.

   #13. Former U17 international forward Myles Cherry (203-98, is currently at the American university) helped Lafayette win their game against the College of the Holy Cross 72-62 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Cherry recorded 16 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in a mere 18 minutes. Cherry averaged so far 10.1ppg, 7.0rpg and 2.3apg in 24 games. He used to play for the Australian U17 national team six years ago.

   #14. U19 international forward Keli Leaupepe (198-0, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Loyola Mary (2-4) in their last game on Thursday. Despite Leaupepe's very good performance his team was crushed 77-54 in Provo by the Brigham Young University. He scored 15 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Leaupepe's total stats this season are: 7.2ppg and 3.3rpg. He plays currently for the Australian U19 national team.

   #15. University international guard Dejan Vasiljevic (190-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped Miami, FL win their game against the Wake Forest University 71-54 in the NCAA on Saturday night. He recorded 11 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Vasiljevic averaged so far 14.2ppg, 4.3rpg and 1.1apg. He is also in the roster of the Australian university national team.


The list of other players, who all have Australian passport but never been selected to any of Australian national teams:

   #1. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, agency: Slash Sports, college: UBC, currently plays in Croatia) contributed to an easy victory against the league outsider H.Analitica (2-17) 106-88 in the Croatian Premijer Liga in Sunday night's game. Gilbert recorded 7 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists in 23 minutes. KK Zadar (17-2) is placed first in the Premijer Liga. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Gilbert has reliable stats this year: 11.6ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.8apg in 18 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #2. Experienced Timothy Kearney (201-F/G-86, currently plays in Sweden) led BC Lulea to an easy victory against the eighth-ranked Nassjo (10-19) crushing them 98-75 in the Swedish Basketligan on Friday night. He recorded 13 points and added 5 assists in 31 minutes. BC Lulea (23-6) is placed second in the Basketligan. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. Kearney plays tenth season for the team. This year Kearney's overall stats are: 4.8ppg and 2.8rpg in 29 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and Swedish.

   #3. Grant Anticevich (203-F, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the California (2-3) in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team lost 75-80 on the road to the Arizona State University. Anticevich scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 34 minutes. This year Anticevich's overall stats are: 8.3ppg, 5.3rpg and 1.2apg in 23 games.

   #4. Matthew McCarthy (205-PF-96, college: USF, currently plays in Holland) contributed to an easy victory against the seventh-ranked Den Helder (6-13) crushing them 109-65 in the Dutch Eredivisie on Sunday night. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Donar Groningen (16-4) is placed first in the Eredivisie. McCarthy's overall stats this season are: 7.9ppg and 5.3rpg.

   #5. Rasmus Bach (193-G-95, college: Fort Lewis, currently plays in Denmark) was not able to help Randers (17-4) in their last game. Despite his good performance the first-placed Randers (17-4) was crushed 127-89 in Risskov by the second-ranked Bakken in the Pro A group. Bach was the second best scorer with 13 points. He also added 4 rebounds and 3 assists (made all of his five free throws) in 29 minutes. Bach averaged so far 12.4ppg, 6.1rpg, 2.4apg and 1.5spg in 21 games. He has both Australian and Danish nationalities.

   #6. Mason Peatling (203-F-97, currently studies in the States) led EWU to a victory against the Portland State University 89-81 in the NCAA last Saturday. Peatling recorded a double-double by scoring 22 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 5 assists and 3 blocks. Peatling has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 16.5ppg, 8.8rpg, 2.8apg and 1.6bpg.

   #7. Josh Green (198-SF-0, is currently at the American university) contributed to Arizona's surprising victory against the Stanford University 69-60 in the NCAA on Saturday night. Green recorded 15 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists (made all of his eight free throws) in 27 minutes. Green averaged so far 11.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 2.4apg and 1.5spg in 25 games.

   #8. Madut Akec (201-F-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) was not able to secure a victory for the S.Florida in their game against the University of Houston in the NCAA. Akec recorded 7 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. His team was defeated 62-58. Akec's total stats this season are: 2.4ppg and 2.2rpg. He also holds two passports: Australian and South Sudanese.

   #9. Noah Thomas (188-G, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the Drake in their game against the Missouri State University in the NCAA, despite his very good performance last Wednesday. Thomas recorded 14 points and added 4 assists in 25 minutes. But his team was crushed by 35 points 97-62. This year Thomas' total stats are: 6.0ppg, 1.3rpg and 1.7apg in 25 games.

   #10. Matur Maluach (196-F, currently plays in Canada) led University of New Brunswick to a victory over the Sea Hawks 85-71 in the U Sports in Saturday night's game. Maluach was the best player in that game. He recorded 17 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 29 minutes. Maluach averaged so far 12.8ppg and 6.3rpg in 18 games.