Ben Simmons selected the top Australian playing abroad in last week's games

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 power forward Ben Simmons (208-96, college: LSU, currently plays in NBA). Simmons was the major contributor in a Philadelphia 76ers' victory against the Indiana Pacers (12-12) 119-110 in the NBA last Sunday. He recorded 21 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists and made 2 blocks. The Philadelphia 76ers have a solid 17-7 record this season. It's Simmons' fifth year with the team. Simmons has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 13.5ppg, 8.3rpg, 8.0apg, 1.8spg, 2FGP: 55.7%(108-194), 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 64.4%. Simmons played for the Australian senior national team seven years ago.

Joe Ingles

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former international small forward Joe Ingles (203-87, currently plays in NBA). He contributed to an easy victory against the Charlotte Hornets (11-13) 138-121 in the NBA on Friday night. Ingles had a double-double by scoring 10 points and making 11 passes. He also added 4 rebounds in 28 minutes. The Utah Jazz has quite an impressive 19-5 record this season. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Ingles is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his seventh year in Utah Jazz's roster. Ingles has relatively good stats this season: 10.1ppg, 3.6rpg, 4.6apg, 2FGP: 63.3%(31-49), 3FGP: 42.4% and FT: 86.7% in 20 games he played so far. He played for the Australian national team in 2019.

Aron Baynes

   #3. The Australian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international center Aron Baynes (208-86, college: WSU, currently plays in NBA). Baynes contributed to a Toronto Raptors' victory against the Orlando Magic (9-15) 115-102 in the NBA in Sunday night's game. He recorded 8 points and grabbed 16 rebounds. The Toronto Raptors have 10-13 record this season. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. It's Baynes' first year with the team. Baynes' overall stats this season are: 5.3ppg, 5.4rpg, 2FGP: 51.5%, 3FGP: 23.4% and FT: 75.0%. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and New Zealand. Baynes played for the Australian national team two years ago.

Brock Motum

   #4. Power forward Brock Motum (208-90, college: WSU, currently plays in Turkey) could not help Galatasaray in their last game on Saturday. Despite his good performance his team was defeated 68-61 on the road by the much lower-ranked Gaziantep (#9). Motum was the second best scorer with 11 points. He also added 8 rebounds. This season Motum has relatively solid stats: 14.8ppg, 3.9rpg and 2.0apg. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2016.

Nick Kay

   #5. Former international power forward Nick Kay (206-92, college: MSU Denver, currently plays in Spain) was not able to help Real Betis (0-0) in their game against Valencia Basket (19-1) in the Spanish Liga Endesa, despite his very good performance in Saturday night's game. Kay was the second best scorer with 14 points. He also added 5 rebounds in 32 minutes. But Real Betis lost 81-89 in Valencia to the second-ranked Basket. This year Kay's overall stats are: 9.3ppg, 6.2rpg and 1.2apg in 21 games. He used to play for the Australian national team two years ago.

Patrick Mills

   #6. Point guard Patrick Mills (183-88, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the San Antonio Spurs (13-10) in their game against the Memphis Grizzlies (9-9) in the NBA. Despite his good performance last Monday Mills scored 11 points. Mills has been at the team for nine years. This season he has very high stats. Mills averages: 13.6ppg, 1.9rpg and 2.7apg. He is a former international player as he played for the Australian senior team two years ago.

Angus Brandt

   #7. Former international center Angus Brandt (208-89, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Shiga L-Stars (12-22) in their game against Chiba Jets (27-8) in the Japanese B1 League, despite his very good performance last Sunday. He had a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds in 30 minutes. But the seventh-placed Shiga L-Stars (12-22) were crushed 97-71 at home by the second-ranked Chiba Jets in the West group. It's Brandt's first season with the team. Brandt has reliable stats this year: 12.8ppg, 8.2rpg and 3.2apg in 32 games. He used to play for the Australian national team three years ago.

Duop Reath

   #8. Center Duop Reath (210-96, college: LSU, currently plays in ABA League) managed to help KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd to win against the closely-ranked Mega (12-6) 92-85 in a derby game in the ABA League on Monday night. Reath scored 5 points. KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd (12-2) is placed third in the ABA League. Reath's total stats this season are: 5.8ppg and 2.5rpg. He used to play for the Australian university national team back in 2017.

Rhys Vague

   #9. Former international forward Rhys Vague (206-96, currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Kagawa FA (15-22) in their game against Yamagata (18-19) in the Japanese B2 League, despite his very good performance in Saturday night's game. Vague scored 17 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 6 assists in 40 minutes. But Kagawa FA (#6) were edged 99-96 on their home court in Takamatsu by the higher-ranked (#5) Yamagata in the West group. It was Kagawa FA's fourth consecutive loss in a row. This year Vague's total stats are: 10.0ppg, 8.9rpg and 1.7apg in 30 games. He used to play for the Australian national team eight years ago.

Tyler Robertson

   #10. Swingman Tyler Robertson (198-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) led EWU to an easy victory against the Sacramento State University (4-4) 94-79 in the NCAA on Monday night. He scored 20 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 6 assists in 30 minutes. The Eastern Washington University has a very good 7-2 conference record this season. Robertson's stats this year are: 11.9ppg, 3.8rpg and 2.9apg in 13 games. He is a former U19 international player as two years ago he still played for the Australian national team.

   #11. Former U19 international forward Jacob Rigoni (198-98, currently studies in the States) led Quinnipiac to an easy victory against the Fairfield University 78-63 in the NCAA in Sunday night's game. Rigoni scored 20 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Rigoni averaged so far 11.8ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.1apg. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team five years ago.

   #12. Former international point guard Josh Wilcher (178-91, college: Cent.Wyoming, currently plays in United Kingdom) led Bristol Acadamy Flyers to a 3-point victory against the closely-ranked Scorchers 90-87 in the British BBL in Saturday night's game. He scored 13 points and added 4 assists in 25 minutes. Wilcher has averaged so far 10.0ppg, 1.8rpg and 2.3apg in four games. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2009.

   #13. Former U19 international forward Grant Anticevich (203, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the California in their game against the Stanford University in the NCAA. He scored 8 points, grabbed 6 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 30 minutes. His team lost 70-76. Anticevich has averaged so far 9.2ppg, 4.4rpg and 1.8apg in 17 games. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team five years ago.

   #14. Former U17 international guard Kobe Williamson (203-1, currently plays college basketball in the States) couldn't help the one of league's weakest teams Seattle in their game against the Dixie State University in the NCAA. Williamson scored 8 points, had 15 rebounds and made 4 blocks. His team was edged 77-76. Williamson has averaged so far 5.7ppg, 7.1rpg and 1.4bpg. He used to play for the Australian U17 national team back in 2018.

   #15. Former U17 international center Mate Colina (213-99, currently plays college basketball in the States) led Hawaii to an easy victory against the Cal Poly - San Luis Obispo University 84-68 in the NCAA last Friday. Colina scored 14 points and grabbed 9 rebounds in 28 minutes. Colina has averaged so far 7.0ppg and 6.1rpg in nine games. He used to play for the Australian U17 national team five years ago.


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

   #1. Kyrie Irving (190-G-92, college: Duke, currently plays in NBA) led Brooklyn Nets to a victory over the Los Angeles Clippers (17-8) 124-120 in the NBA in Tuesday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Irving scored 39 points (!!!), had 5 rebounds and made 2 blocks in 37 minutes. The Brooklyn Nets have 14-11 record this season. Irving has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 27.5ppg, 4.8rpg and 5.7apg in 16 games he played so far. Irving is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in Australia.

   #2. Lachlan Anderson (206-F-97, college: EKU, currently plays in Balkan League) was the main contributor in a TFT Skopje's victory against the league outsider Ibar Rozaje (3-7) 91-75 in the Balkan League last Tuesday. He was MVP of the game. Anderson scored 24 points and had 3 steals in only a mere 10 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only his third season in pro basketball. KK TFT Skopje (4-6) is placed 16th in the Balkan League. The Regular Season already ended in the Balkan League. It's Anderson's first year with the team. Anderson has very impressive stats this season: 20.6ppg, 4.3rpg, 1.2apg and 1.4spg in 10 games.

   #3. Venkatesha Jois (203-F-93, college: EWU, currently plays in Serbia) was the major contributor in Pirot's victory against the closely-ranked Dunav SB (7-13) 96-83 in the Serbian KLS on Friday night. Jois scored 17 points, grabbed 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 27 minutes. KK Pirot (6-14) is placed 16th in the KLS. Jois has reliable stats this year: 12.5ppg, 7.0rpg, 3.0apg and 2.0spg in two games.

   #4. Bul Kuol (201-G/F-96, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Detroit's victory against the Purdue University Fort Wayne (5-11) 82-72 in the NCAA in Friday night's game. He scored 29 points (!!!). The University of Detroit Mercy has 7-5 conference record this season. There are only four games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. It's Kuol's first year with the team. This season Kuol has very high stats. He averages: 15.2ppg, 4.4rpg, 1.9apg and 1.3spg. Kuol has a dual citizenship: Australian and South Sudanese.

   #5. Ryan Rapp (196-G, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA could not help the WSU (4-8) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Rapp's very good performance the WSU was edged 68-66 at home by the Oregon State University. He recorded 15 points. Rapp has averaged so far 3.6ppg, 2.3rpg and 1.7apg.

   #6. Gabe Hadley (193-G, is currently at the American university) contributed to an easy victory against the Bethesda University crushing them 101-64 in the NCAA last Sunday. Hadley scored 23 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 22 minutes. Hadley averaged so far 10.8ppg, 4.0rpg, 2.0apg and 1.1spg in nine games.

   #7. Jesse Hunt (203-F-97, college: EWU, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help one of league's weakest teams Rasta Vechta in their game against Skyliners in the German BBL. He recorded 5 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. His team was crushed by 24 points 96-72. Hunt has averaged so far 7.5ppg and 5.3rpg.

   #8. Hunter Marks (206-F, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the Hartford (7-5) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Marks' very good performance the Hartford was defeated 63-49 on their home court in West Hartford by the Stony Brook University. He recorded 15 points, 6 rebounds and 5 blocks. Marks has averaged so far 9.1ppg, 5.8rpg and 1.1apg.

   #9. Experienced Marial Mading (211-F-0, college: Pacific, currently plays in Serbia) couldn't help Radnicki KG in their game against Mladost ZE in the Serbian KLS. Mading recorded only 4 points and grabbed 6 rebounds in 12 minutes. His team was badly defeated by 19 points 110-91. Mading has averaged so far 5.0ppg and 2.8rpg in four games.

   #10. Hugh Baxter (203-F, currently plays college basketball in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Gabe Hadley. But that was another game of his team in NCAA which we would like to mention. Baxter, who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the UCSD (1-5) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the UCSD was defeated 71-59 on their home court in La Jolla by the University of California Riverside. Baxter recorded 17 points. Baxter has averaged so far 7.8ppg, 3.2rpg and 1.8apg.