Joe Ingles' 34 points make him top Australian player abroad of the week

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

Joe Ingles

   #1. This week's number one is an experienced former international small forward Joe Ingles (203-87, currently plays in NBA). Ingles could not help the Utah Jazz (30-11) in their last game on Thursday. Despite his very good performance the Utah Jazz (30-11) was defeated 131-122 on the road by the Washington Wizards. Ingles was the second best scorer with 34 points. He also added 5 rebounds. It's Ingles' seventh season with the team. Ingles has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 12.2ppg, 3.5rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 65.9%(56-85), 3FGP: 49.0%(100-204) and FT: 88.9%. Ingles played for the Australian senior national team two years ago.

Duop Reath

   #2. Second place goes to former University international center Duop Reath (210-96, college: LSU, currently plays in ABA League). He led his Serbian team Crvena Zvezda to a victory over the eighth-ranked Partizan NiS (7-13) 73-64 in the ABA League on Sunday night. Reath was MVP of the game. He scored 15 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in a mere 19 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Reath's third season in pro basketball. KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd (16-3) is placed second in the ABA League. It was his team's seventh consecutive victory in a row. This year Reath's overall stats are: 6.1ppg, 2.7rpg, 2FGP: 59.1%(26-44), 3FGP: 37.5% and FT: 36.8% in 14 games he played so far. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and South Sudanese. Reath played for the Australian university national team in 2017.

Ben Simmons

   #3. The Australian player who performed third best last week abroad was former international power forward Ben Simmons (208-96, college: LSU, currently plays in NBA). He was not able to help the Philadelphia 76ers (30-13) in their last game on Wednesday. Despite Simmons' good performance the Philadelphia 76ers (30-13) were defeated 109-105 in Milwaukee by the Bucks. He recorded a triple-double by scoring 13 points, grabbing 10 rebounds and passing 12 assists. Simmons is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his fifth year in 76ers' roster. This season Simmons has very high stats. He averages: 15.9ppg, 8.0rpg, 7.7apg, 1.5spg, 2FGP: 57.1%(217-380), 3FGP: 37.5% and FT: 65.1%. Simmons played for the Australian national team seven years ago.

Patrick Mills

   #4. Point guard Patrick Mills (183-88, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA) contributed to a San Antonio Spurs' victory against the Chicago Bulls (19-22) 106-99 in the NBA on Wednesday night. Mills scored 14 points and added 3 assists. The San Antonio Spurs have 22-17 record this season. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. Mills has been at the team for nine years. This season he has very high stats. Mills averages: 13.0ppg, 1.7rpg and 2.6apg. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2019.

Brock Motum

   #5. Former international power forward Brock Motum (208-90, college: WSU, currently plays in Turkey) helped Galatasaray win their game against the 13th-ranked Acibadem (8-17) 101-90 in a derby game in the Turkish BSL last Saturday. Motum scored 14 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul (22-3) is placed second in the BSL. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. They will play only one more game in the Regular Season. And that game will be critical. It's Motum's first season with the team. He has relatively good stats this year: 14.3ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.8apg. Motum used to play for the Australian national team five years ago.

Aron Baynes

   #6. Center Aron Baynes (208-86, college: WSU, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Toronto Raptors (17-25) in their game against the Detroit Pistons (12-30) in the NBA. He scored 9 points and grabbed 5 rebounds in 26 minutes. But the Toronto Raptors (17-25) lost 112-116 in Detroit to the Pistons. It was Raptors' eighth consecutive loss in a row. This year Baynes' total stats are: 6.2ppg and 5.5rpg in 39 games. He is a former international player as he played for the Australian senior team two years ago.

Nick Kay

   #7. Former international power forward Nick Kay (206-92, college: MSU Denver, currently plays in Spain) helped Real Betis win their game against the closely-ranked Andorra (12-12) 69-61 in the Spanish Liga Endesa in Sunday night's game. Kay scored 10 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. Coosur Real Betis Sevillais placed 12th in the Liga Endesa. Kay has averaged so far 9.0ppg, 6.4rpg and 1.3apg. He used to play for the Australian national team two years ago.

Rhys Vague

   #8. Forward Rhys Vague (206-96, currently plays in Japan) was the major contributor in a Kagawa FA's victory against the seventh-ranked Bambitious Nara (17-29) 108-91 in the Japanese B2 League in Sunday night's game. He had a double-double by scoring 25 points and getting 10 rebounds in 22 minutes. Kagawa Five Arrows (23-26) are placed fourth in West group. This year Vague has relatively solid stats: 10.1ppg, 8.7rpg and 1.7apg in 42 games. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2013.

Angus Brandt

   #9. Former international center Angus Brandt (208-89, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Shiga L-Stars (16-28) in their last game. Despite Brandt's good performance the sixth-placed Shiga L-Stars (16-28) were edged 97-95 at home by the higher-ranked (#4) Toyama Grouses in the West group. He recorded 10 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 30 minutes. Brandt has reliable stats this year: 12.1ppg, 8.4rpg and 3.3apg in 42 games. He used to play for the Australian national team three years ago.

Josh Wilcher

   #10. Point guard Josh Wilcher (178-91, college: Cent.Wyoming, currently plays in United Kingdom) helped Bristol Acadamy Flyers win their game against the league outsider Glasgow Rocks (3-16) 91-84 in the British BBL in Saturday night's game. He scored 8 points and added 7 assists in 27 minutes. Bristol Academy Flyers (2-4) is placed third in the BBL. Wilcher's stats this year are: 10.5ppg, 1.8rpg and 4.8apg in 11 games. He is a former international player as twelve years ago he still played for the Australian senior national team.

   #11. Former U19 international swingman Alex Ducas (198-0, currently plays college basketball in the States), who plays in the NCAA couldn't help the St.Mary's, CA (5-7) in their last game. Despite his good performance the St.Mary's, CA was edged 69-67 in Bowling Green by the Western Kentucky University. Ducas recorded 11 points in 26 minutes. Ducas has averaged so far 7.9ppg and 4.4rpg in 14 games. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team two years ago.

   #12. Former U19 international swingman Tyler Robertson (198-0, currently studies in the States) couldn't help the EWU in their game against the University of Kansas in the NCAA National Tournament Round 1. Robertson scored 7 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 20 minutes. His team lost 84-93. Robertson averaged so far 11.1ppg, 3.6rpg and 3.0apg in 23 games. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team back in 2019.

   #13. Former University international guard Kyle Zunic (188-99, is currently at the American university) couldn't help the Winthrop in their game against the Villanova University in the NCAA National Tournament Round 1. Zunic scored 8 points. His team was defeated 73-63. Zunic has averaged so far 5.0ppg, 2.6rpg and 1.4apg. He used to play for the Australian university national team two years ago.

   #14. Former U19 international forward Kyle Bowen (203-0, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays college basketball in the States) is a teammate of previously mentioned Alex Ducas and both played together in the last NCAA game. Bowen couldn't help the St.Mary's, CA in their game against the Western Kentucky University. He recorded 5 points in 19 minutes. His team was edged 69-67. Bowen has averaged so far 4.0ppg and 5.8rpg in 24 games. He used to play for the Australian U19 national team back in 2019.


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) could not help the Brooklyn Nets (29-14) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Brooklyn Nets (29-14) lost 113-121 on the road to the Orlando Magic. Irving was the top scorer with 43 points. He also added 6 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 39 minutes. Irving has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 28.1ppg, 4.8rpg, 5.7apg and 1.2spg in 31 games he played so far. Irving is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in Australia.

   #2. Patrick Donald led Novi Pazar to a 2-point victory over the 16th-ranked Pirot (7-18) 84-82 in the Serbian KLS last Saturday. He was the best player in that game. Donald scored 21 points and added 9 assists (went 7 for 7 at the free throw line) in 34 minutes. It was his first game for Novi Pazar this season. His team is placed fourth in the KLS. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical.

   #3. Lachlan Anderson (206-F-97, college: EKU, currently plays in North Macedonia) led TFT Skopje to a victory over the tenth-ranked MZT Skopje II (5-13) 90-74 in a derby game in the North Macedonian Prva Liga in Sunday night's game. Anderson was the best player in that game. He recorded 20 points, 4 rebounds and 4 assists in 29 minutes; not bad, considering it's only Anderson's third season in pro basketball. KK TFT Skopje (12-4) is placed second in the Prva Liga. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. It's Anderson's first year with the team. He has very impressive stats this season: 18.5ppg, 4.7rpg, 1.7apg and 1.1spg in 15 games.

   #4. Jesse Hunt (203-F-97, college: EWU, currently plays in Germany) was not able to help Rasta Vechta (1-2) in their last game. Despite Hunt's very good performance Rasta Vechta was crushed 101-71 in Oldenburg by the lower-ranked (#4) EWE Baskets. He was the top scorer with 15 points. Hunt also added 5 rebounds in 27 minutes. Hunt has averaged so far 7.9ppg and 6.0rpg in 12 games.

   #5. Matthew McCarthy (205-PF-96, college: USF, currently plays in Romania) contributed to an easy victory against the closely-ranked Constanta (1-3) crushing them 88-65 in the Romanian Liga Nationala on Friday night. He scored 12 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. CSO Voluntari (2-1) is placed second in the Liga Nationala. The Regular Season already ended. McCarthy has averaged so far 6.8ppg and 5.3rpg.

   #6. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, college: UBC, currently plays in Holland) was not able to secure a victory for Den Bosch in their game against Feyenoord in the Dutch DBL. Gilbert scored 7 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was badly defeated by 19 points 106-87. Gilbert has averaged so far 6.1ppg, 3.7rpg and 1.5apg. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #7. Marshall Nelson (188-G-94, college: WBU, currently plays in Iceland) was the major contributor in Grindavik's victory against the league outsider Haukar 81-76 in the Icelandic Dominos League on Thursday night. Nelson recorded 17 points, 8 assists and 3 steals (made all of his five free throws) in 32 minutes. Nelson has very impressive stats this year: 18.8ppg, 3.8rpg, 5.3apg and 1.7spg in six games. He is another player who holds two passports: Belgian and Australian.

   #8. Experienced Timothy Kearney (202-SG-86, currently plays in Sweden) contributed to an easy victory against one of league's weakest teams Umea crushing them 100-63 in the Swedish Basketligan in Monday night's game. Kearney recorded 6 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. Kearney has averaged so far 3.8ppg and 2.6rpg. He has both Australian and Swedish nationalities.

   #9. Josh Green (196-G-0, college: Arizona, currently plays in NBA) managed to help Dallas Mavericks to win against the Portland Trail Blazers crushing them 132-92 in the NBA on Sunday night. Green recorded only 4 points. Green has averaged so far 2.3ppg and 2.0rpg.

   #10. Venkatesha Jois (203-F-93, college: EWU, currently plays in Serbia) faced previously mentioned Patrick Donald in the Serbian KLS last game. Jois couldn't help Pirot in their game against Novi Pazar. He scored only 4 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. His team was edged 84-82. Jois has averaged so far 9.7ppg, 5.2rpg and 1.7apg.