Brock Motum 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.

Brock Motum

   #1. This week's number one is former international power forward Brock Motum (208-90, college: WSU, currently plays in Turkey). Motum was the major contributor in Galatasaray's victory against the tenth-ranked Bursaspor (12-17) 106-93 in the Turkish BSL last Saturday. He scored 27 points (!!!), had 6 rebounds and dished 5 assists. Galatasaray Odeabank Istanbul (23-3) is placed second in the BSL. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended. It's Motum's first season with the team. Motum has relatively good stats this year: 14.9ppg, 3.8rpg, 1.9apg, 2FGP: 52.8%, 3FGP: 50.5%(55-109) and FT: 91.5%(65-71). He played for the Australian senior national team five years ago.

Joe Ingles

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former international small forward Joe Ingles (203-87, currently plays in NBA). Ingles could not help the Utah Jazz (42-15) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Utah Jazz (42-15) lost 115-127 on the road to the Los Angeles Lakers. Ingles had a double-double by scoring 20 points and making 14 passes. He also added and 3 steals in 39 minutes. Ingles is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his seventh year in Utah Jazz's roster. Ingles has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 12.1ppg, 3.7rpg, 4.4apg, 2FGP: 59.5%(69-116), 3FGP: 48.6%(144-296) and FT: 86.8% in 52 games he played so far. Ingles played for the Australian national team in 2019.

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 led Philadelphia 76ers to a victory against the Brooklyn Nets (38-19) 123-117 in the NBA in Wednesday night's game. Simmons recorded 17 points, 4 rebounds, 9 assists and 3 steals. The Philadelphia 76ers have a solid 39-17 record this season. It was his team's fourth consecutive victory in a row. Simmons has been at the team for five years. This season he has very high stats. Simmons averages: 14.8ppg, 7.6rpg, 7.1apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 55.0% and FT: 61.5%. He 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) was not able to help the San Antonio Spurs (27-28) in their last game. Despite Mills' very good performance the San Antonio Spurs (27-28) lost 112-117 in Toronto to the Raptors. He was the second best scorer with 23 points in 30 minutes. Mills plays ninth season for the team. Mills has very impressive stats this year: 12.0ppg, 1.8rpg and 2.5apg in 53 games. He used to play for the Australian national team back in 2019.

Matthew Dellavedova

   #5. Former international guard Matthew Dellavedova (193-90, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Cleveland Cavaliers (20-35) in their game against the New Orleans Pelicans (25-32) in the NBA. Dellavedova recorded 7 points and added 10 passes. The Cleveland Cavaliers (20-35) were defeated 116-109 in New Orleans by the Pelicans. Dellavedova's overall stats this season are: 2.5ppg, 2.0rpg and 5.0apg. He used to play for the Australian national team two years ago.

Angus Brandt

   #6. Center Angus Brandt (208-89, college: Oregon St., currently plays in Japan) led Shiga L-Stars to a victory over the fourth-ranked Aishin Sea Horses (29-18) 88-82 in the Japanese B1 League last Wednesday. Brandt was MVP of the game. He recorded a double-double by scoring 20 points and getting 11 rebounds. Brandt also added 4 assists. Shiga Lakestars (20-34) are placed seventh in West group. There are only four games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game will be critical. This season Brandt has relatively solid stats: 12.3ppg, 8.6rpg and 3.4apg. He is a former international player as he played for the Australian senior team three years ago.

Nick Kay

   #7. Former international power forward Nick Kay (206-92, college: MSU Denver, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Real Betis in their game against UCAM Murcia (12-17) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. He recorded 8 points, 5 rebounds and 2 blocks. Real Betis was crushed 84-55 at home by the lower-ranked UCAM Murcia (#12). Kay's overall stats this season are: 8.6ppg, 5.9rpg and 1.2apg. He used to play for the Australian national team two 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 in a 1-point victory against the fifth-ranked KK Cedevita Olimpija Ljubljana (16-7) 82-81 in the ABA League last Wednesday. Reath scored only 2 points and blocked 2 shots in 19 minutes. KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd (20-3) is placed first in the ABA League. It was his team's 11th consecutive victory in a row. There are only two games left until the end of the ABA League Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This year Reath's overall stats are: 5.2ppg and 2.5rpg in 17 games. He used to play for the Australian university national team back in 2017.

Josh Wilcher

   #9. 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 lost 74-85 in London to the lower-ranked (#3) Lions. He scored 13 points and added 3 passes in 32 minutes. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. This year Wilcher's total stats are: 9.8ppg, 1.8rpg and 3.9apg in 19 games. He used to play for the Australian national team twelve years ago.

Rhys Vague

   #10. Forward Rhys Vague (206-96, currently plays in Japan) couldn't help Kagawa FA (27-27) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Vague's good performance the fourth-placed Kagawa FA (27-27) were defeated 95-84 on their home court in Takamatsu by the lower-ranked Kumamoto Volters (#5) in the West group. He recorded 14 points and grabbed 8 rebounds. There are only two games left until the end of the Regular Season. Vague has averaged so far 9.9ppg, 8.6rpg and 1.7apg. He is a former international player as eight years ago he still played for the Australian senior national team.


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 (38-19) in their last game. Despite his very good performance the Brooklyn Nets (38-19) lost 117-123 on the road to the Philadelphia 76ers. Irving was the top scorer with 37 points. He also added 9 assists (made all of his ten free throws !!!) in 33 minutes. Irving has individually a very good year with high stats. He averages: 27.3ppg, 4.8rpg, 6.1apg and 1.3spg in 41 games he played so far. Irving is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in Australia.

   #2. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, college: UBC, currently plays in Holland) led Den Bosch to a victory against the leader Leiden (16-4) 86-78 in the Dutch DBL in Saturday night's game. Gilbert scored 13 points and grabbed 4 rebounds (went 5 for 5 at the free throw line) in 31 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 3 ranked teams in group Places 1-6. Heroes Den Bosch (4-0) is placed second. So far his team won all four games in the Second Stage. They will play only one more game in the Second Stage. And that game will be critical. This year Gilbert's overall stats are: 6.7ppg, 3.3rpg and 1.6apg in 18 games. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #3. Matthew McCarthy (205-PF-96, college: USF, currently plays in Romania) contributed to an easy victory against the fourth-ranked Galati (0-3) crushing them 92-62 in the Romanian Liga Nationala on Saturday night. McCarthy scored 10 points, had 7 rebounds and dished 3 assists in 24 minutes. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. CSO Voluntariis placed in the Liga Nationala. This year McCarthy's overall stats are: 6.1ppg and 4.3rpg in 18 games.

   #4. Lachlan Anderson (206-F-97, college: EKU, currently plays in North Macedonia) was not able to help TFT Skopje (12-7) in their last game on Friday. Despite Anderson's good performance TFT Skopje was crushed 104-68 in Bitola by the leading Pelister. He scored 10 points and grabbed 4 rebounds. There are only three games left until the end of the Regular Season. So now every game is very crucial. This season Anderson has very high stats. He averages: 17.5ppg, 4.9rpg, 1.6apg and 1.1spg.

   #5. Damian Prgomet (208-F, college: SW Baptist, currently plays in Spain) was not able to secure a victory for CAM E.Soler (10-14) in their last game. Despite Prgomet's very good performance CAM E.Soler (#10) lost 74-85 on the opponent's court to the higher-ranked (#7) Gijon in the West group. He had a double-double by scoring 23 points and getting 13 rebounds in 26 minutes; quite an impressive performance considering it's only Prgomet's third season in pro basketball. His team will play only one more game in the Regular Season. Prgomet has reliable stats this year: 14.6ppg, 6.3rpg and 1.1apg in 20 games.

   #6. Experienced Josh Green (196-G-0, college: Arizona, currently plays in NBA) couldn't help the Dallas Mavericks in their game against the Philadelphia 76ers in the NBA. He cannot count Monday's game as one of the best ones. Green scored only 2 points. His team were badly defeated by 18 points 113-95 in the NBA. Green has averaged so far 2.3ppg and 1.9rpg.

   #7. Timothy Kearney (202-SG-86, currently plays in Sweden) managed to help BC Lulea in a victory against one of league's weakest teams Umea 102-84 in the Swedish Basketligan last Friday. He scored only 4 points in 16 minutes. Kearney has averaged so far 3.6ppg and 2.5rpg in 26 games. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and Swedish.

   #8. Ben Dixon (185-G-93, currently plays in United Kingdom) couldn't help Rockets (7-7) in their last game on Saturday. Despite Dixon's very good performance Rockets was defeated 112-105 in London by the lower-ranked Rebels (#6). He was the second best scorer with 21 points. Dixon also added 4 passes. Dixon has averaged so far 7.2ppg, 2.8rpg and 2.6apg. He has both Australian and British nationalities.