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

Here is the weekly review of the top performing Australian players, who play currently abroad.

Ben Simmons

   #1. This week's number one is former international power forward Ben Simmons (208-96, college: LSU, currently plays in NBA). Simmons could not help the Philadelphia 76ers (18-9) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his very good performance the Philadelphia 76ers (18-9) were defeated 118-114 on the road by the Portland Trail Blazers. Simmons recorded a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 11 rebounds. He also added 9 assists. It's Simmons' fifth season with the team. Simmons has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 14.1ppg, 8.3rpg, 7.9apg, 1.7spg, 2FGP: 57.0%(130-228), 3FGP: 16.7% and FT: 63.9%. 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 led Utah Jazz to a victory over the Milwaukee Bucks (16-11) 129-115 in the NBA on Friday night. Ingles was MVP of the game. He recorded 27 points (!!!) and added 5 passes in 30 minutes. The Utah Jazz has a very solid 22-5 record this season. It was his team's seventh 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 very impressive stats this season: 11.3ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.7apg, 2FGP: 63.0%(34-54), 3FGP: 44.4% and FT: 87.1% in 23 games he played so far. He played for the Australian national team in 2019.

Patrick Mills

   #3. The Australian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international point guard Patrick Mills (183-88, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA). Mills contributed to a San Antonio Spurs' victory against the Atlanta Hawks (11-15) 125-114 in the NBA in Friday night's game. He recorded 12 points and added 4 passes. The San Antonio Spurs have 16-11 record this season. Mills has been at the team for nine years. This year Mills has very high stats. He averages: 13.2ppg, 1.9rpg, 2.7apg, 2FGP: 52.8% and FT: 94.3%(33-35). Mills played for the Australian national team two years ago.

Aron Baynes

   #4. Center Aron Baynes (208-86, college: WSU, currently plays in NBA) helped Toronto Raptors win their game against the Boston Celtics (13-13) 120-106 in the NBA last Thursday. He scored 8 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 21 minutes. The Toronto Raptors have 12-15 record this season. This year Baynes' overall stats are: 5.6ppg and 5.5rpg in 24 games. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and New Zealand. Baynes used to play for the Australian national team back in 2019.

Grant Anticevich

   #5. Former U19 international forward Grant Anticevich (203, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to help the California (3-14) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his very good performance the California was edged 76-75 in Salt Lake City by the University of Utah. Anticevich scored 18 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. There are only four games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Anticevich plays fourth season for the team. His total stats this year are: 9.4ppg, 4.6rpg and 1.7apg. Anticevich used to play for the Australian U19 national team five years ago.

Jonah Antonio

   #6. Guard Jonah Antonio (196-97, currently studies in the States), who plays in the NCAA was not able to secure a victory for the Wake Forest (3-9) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Wake Forest lost 85-92 at home to the Florida State University. Antonio scored 23 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 25 minutes. It's Antonio's first season with the team. This year his total stats are: 7.6ppg and 2.4rpg in 14 games. Antonio is a former university international player as he played for the Australian 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 (13-24) in their last game on Sunday. Despite his very good performance the seventh-placed Shiga L-Stars (13-24) were crushed 97-71 on their home court in Shiga by the second-ranked Chiba Jets in the West group. Brandt recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 10 rebounds. Brandt has relatively good stats this season: 12.3ppg, 8.1rpg and 3.3apg. He used to play for the Australian national team three years ago.

Brock Motum

   #8. Power forward Brock Motum (208-90, college: WSU, currently plays in Turkey) couldn't help Galatasaray (17-2) in their game against Socar Petkim (8-13) in the Turkish BSL. Motum recorded 7 points. Galatasaray was crushed 89-65 on their home court in Istanbul by the much lower-ranked Socar Petkim (#11). This season Motum has relatively solid stats: 14.4ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.9apg. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2016.

Lat Mayen Nai

   #9. Former U19 international forward Lat Mayen Nai (206-98, is currently at the American university), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the one of league's weakest teams Nebraska (1-9) in their last game on Friday. Despite his very good performance the Nebraska was defeated 77-72 in Champaign by the University of Illinois. Mayen Nai recorded 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Mayen Nai has averaged so far 8.5ppg and 4.9rpg. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team five years ago.

Jacob Rigoni

   #10. Forward Jacob Rigoni (198-98, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped Quinnipiac win their game against the Fairfield University (6-3) 78-63 in the NCAA on Sunday night. Rigoni scored 20 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 34 minutes. The Quinnipiac University has rather weak 3-7 conference record this season. There are only four games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Rigoni plays for the team since 2017. He has reliable stats this year: 12.3ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.2apg in 12 games. Rigoni is a former U19 international player as five years ago he still played for the Australian national team.

   #11. Former U19 international forward Keli Leaupepe (198-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped LMU win their game against the University of Pacific 80-76 in the NCAA on Saturday night. He scored 17 points and grabbed 5 rebounds. Leaupepe has averaged so far 9.6ppg and 4.3rpg. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team two years ago.

   #12. Former international point guard Josh Wilcher (178-91, college: Cent.Wyoming, currently plays in United Kingdom) couldn't help Bristol Acadamy Flyers (2-4) in their last game. Despite Wilcher's good performance Bristol Acadamy Flyers was edged 71-69 in Chester by the lower-ranked (#3) Cheshire Phoenix. He was the second best scorer with 13 points. Wilcher also added 5 passes in 35 minutes. He has averaged so far 9.3ppg, 1.8rpg and 3.2apg in six games. Wilcher used to play for the Australian national team back in 2009.

   #13. Former international forward Rhys Vague (206-96, currently plays in Japan) helped Kagawa FA win their game against the fourth-ranked Kumamoto Volters crushing them 109-89 in the Japanese B2 League last Saturday. He scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. Vague's stats this season are: 10.1ppg, 8.8rpg and 1.7apg. He used to play for the Australian national team eight years ago.

   #14. Former University international center Jock Perry (216-97, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped UC Riverside win their game against the University of California - Irvine crushing them 86-65 in the NCAA last Friday. He recorded 16 points and grabbed 4 rebounds in 26 minutes. Perry averaged so far 11.5ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.1apg in 14 games. He used to play for the Australian university national team back in 2019.

   #15. Former U19 international swingman Tyler Robertson (198-0, currently plays college basketball in the States) helped EWU win their game against the Montana State University 85-69 in the NCAA last Saturday. Robertson recorded a double-double by scoring 10 points and getting the same number of rebounds. He also added and 3 steals. Robertson averaged so far 11.7ppg, 4.1rpg and 2.9apg. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team two 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 Indiana Pacers (14-13) 104-94 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. He was MVP of the game. Irving scored 35 points (!!!), grabbed 4 boards, handed out 8 passes and blocked 2 shots (was perfect 17-for-17 from the free throw line !!!) in 35 minutes. The Brooklyn Nets have 16-12 record this season. Irving has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 27.6ppg, 4.6rpg and 5.8apg in 19 games he played so far. Irving is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in Australia.

   #2. Jesse Hunt (203-F-97, college: EWU, currently plays in Germany) could not help Rasta Vechta (1-2) in their last game. Despite Hunt's good performance Rasta Vechta lost 71-80 on the road to the leading Braunschweig. He had a double-double by scoring 11 points and getting the same number of rebounds. Hunt also added 3 assists in 33 minutes. Hunt has averaged so far 7.6ppg and 6.6rpg in seven games.

   #3. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, college: UBC, currently plays in Holland) contributed to an easy victory against the tenth-ranked Almere (1-5) crushing them 119-74 in the Dutch DBL in Saturday night's game. He recorded 8 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists. Heroes Den Bosch (4-0) is placed second in the DBL. So far his team won all four games in the Regular Season. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. Gilbert has averaged so far 7.0ppg, 3.7rpg and 2.3apg. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #4. Bul Kuol (201-G/F-96, currently plays college basketball in the States) contributed to Detroit's victory against the Cleveland State University (7-7) 89-83 in the NCAA last Friday. Kuol recorded 18 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists in 33 minutes. The University of Detroit Mercy has 8-6 conference record this season. There are only two games left until the end of the NCAA Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. Kuol has very impressive stats this year: 15.3ppg, 4.7rpg, 2.0apg and 1.3spg in 18 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and South Sudanese.

   #5. Marshall Nelson (188-G-94, college: WBU, currently plays in Iceland) was not able to help Grindavik (3-2) in their last game. Despite Nelson's very good performance Grindavik lost 81-88 in Sauoarkrokur to the lower-ranked (#7) Tindastoll. He was the top scorer with 19 points. Nelson also added 4 rebounds in 22 minutes. It was his first game for Grindavik this season. Nelson has both Belgian and Australian nationalities.

   #6. Gabe Hadley (193-G, currently studies in the States) contributed to an easy victory against the Bethesda University crushing them 101-64 in the NCAA in Sunday night's game. He scored 23 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Hadley's stats this season are: 10.4ppg, 3.8rpg and 1.8apg.

   #7. Lachlan Viney (188-G, currently plays in NCAA2) was not able to secure a victory for the one of league's weakest teams Hawaii Pacific University in their last game. Despite his very good performance his team lost 83-89 in a derby game to the Chaminade University. Viney scored 19 points, grabbed 4 boards, passed 6 assists and added 4 steals in 35 minutes. It was his first game for Hawaii Pacific University this season.

   #8. Ryan Rapp (196-G, is currently at the American university) managed to help Washington State University in a victory against the University of California at Los Angeles 81-73 in the NCAA on Thursday night. Rapp scored 5 points, had 8 rebounds and dished 8 assists in 35 minutes. He has averaged so far 3.9ppg, 2.8rpg and 2.3apg in 15 games.

   #9. Riley Abercrombie (206-F, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the Rice (6-8) in their last game on Friday. Despite Abercrombie's good performance the Rice was defeated 77-71 at home by the Western Kentucky University. He recorded 13 points and grabbed 6 rebounds. Abercrombie has averaged so far 8.3ppg and 4.3rpg.

   #10. Josh Tomasi (208-F, currently plays in NCAA2) contributed to an easy victory against the University of Minnesota Crookston 78-59 in the NCAA2 on Saturday night. Tomasi scored 16 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. He averaged so far 14.2ppg and 7.2rpg.