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). He could not help the Philadelphia 76ers (49-23) in their last game. Despite Simmons' very good performance the Philadelphia 76ers (49-23) lost 94-103 on the road to the Indiana Pacers. He was the second best scorer with 20 points. Simmons also added 8 rebounds and 7 assists in 37 minutes on the court. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. It's Simmons' fifth season with the team. He has individually a very good year with high stats. Simmons averages: 14.3ppg, 7.2rpg, 6.9apg, 1.6spg, 2FGP: 56.2%(322-573) and FT: 61.3% in 58 games he played so far. He played for the Australian senior national team seven years ago.

Patrick Mills

   #2. Second place goes to an experienced former international point guard Patrick Mills (183-88, college: St.Mary's, CA, currently plays in NBA). Mills led San Antonio Spurs to an easy victory against the Milwaukee Bucks (46-26) crushing them 146-125 in the NBA on Monday night. He scored 20 points in 23 minutes. The San Antonio Spurs have 33-39 record this season. Mills' team will play only one more game in the NBA Regular Season. And that game will be critical. Mills is one of the most experienced players in a team as it's his ninth year in Spurs' roster. He has relatively good stats this season: 10.8ppg, 1.7rpg, 2.4apg, 3FGP: 37.4% and FT: 91.0%(71-78) in 68 games. Mills 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). He was not able to help the Toronto Raptors (28-44) in their last game on Sunday. Despite Baynes' good performance the Toronto Raptors (28-44) were defeated 125-113 in Indianapolis by the Indiana Pacers. He recorded a double-double by scoring 14 points and getting 10 rebounds. Baynes also added 2 blocks. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. Baynes' overall stats this season are: 6.1ppg, 5.2rpg, 2FGP: 53.5%, 3FGP: 26.2% and FT: 70.7%. He has a dual citizenship: Australian and New Zealand. Baynes played for the Australian national team two years ago.

Joe Ingles

   #4. Small forward Joe Ingles (203-87, currently plays in NBA) was not able to secure a victory for the Utah Jazz (52-20) in their last game. Despite his good performance the Utah Jazz (52-20) lost 98-105 at home to the Portland Trail Blazers. Ingles scored 14 points, grabbed 4 rebounds and dished 4 assists in 32 minutes. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. Ingles has been at the team for seven years. He has very impressive stats this season: 12.1ppg, 3.6rpg and 4.8apg in 67 games. Ingles 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 France) led JSF Nanterre to a victory over one of league's weakest teams Chalon/Saor (8-18) 97-87 in the French Jeep ELITE ProA on Wednesday night. He was MVP of the game. Motum scored 18 points. JSF Nanterre (8-8) is placed eighth in the Jeep ELITE ProA. This season Motum has relatively solid stats: 15.0ppg, 4.5rpg and 2.0apg. He used to play for the Australian national team five years ago.

Duop Reath

   #6. 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 Buducnost (22-4) 82-78 in the ABA League last Sunday. He recorded 5 points. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. KK Crvena Zvezda MTS Beograd (23-3) is placed first in the ABA League. It was his team's 14th consecutive victory in a row. Reath's overall stats this season are: 4.8ppg and 2.3rpg. He is a former university international player as he played for the Australian team four years ago.

Geremy McKay

   #7. Former international forward Geremy McKay (201-96, college: Vanguard, currently plays in New Zealand) contributed to Nuggets' victory against the league outsider Jets (0-5) 92-85 in the New Zealand NBL on Saturday night. He scored 10 points, had 5 rebounds and dished 3 assists. Otago OceanaGold Nuggets (3-2) are placed fourth in the NBL. It was his team's third consecutive victory in a row. But this is still an early stage of the season and everything may happen. McKay's overall stats this year are: 9.0ppg, 4.8rpg and 1.8apg. He used to play for the Australian national team six years ago.

Nick Kay

   #8. Power forward Nick Kay (206-92, college: MSU Denver, currently plays in Spain) couldn't help Real Betis in their game against FC Barcelona (29-4) in the Spanish Liga Endesa. Kay cannot count Sunday's game as one of the best ones. He recorded only 2 points in 20 minutes. Real Betis was crushed 109-58 on their home court in Sevilla by the second-ranked FC Barcelona. This year Kay's overall stats are: 8.1ppg, 5.7rpg and 1.2apg in 34 games. He used to play for the Australian 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) was the major contributor in a Brooklyn Nets' victory against the Cleveland Cavaliers (22-50) 123-109 in the NBA last Sunday. Irving scored 17 points, had 6 rebounds and made 3 blocks. The Brooklyn Nets have a solid 48-24 record this season. It was his team's fifth consecutive victory in a row. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. Irving has individually a very good season with high stats. He averages: 26.9ppg, 4.8rpg, 6.0apg and 1.4spg. Irving is a naturalized American. Strangely he has never played in Australia.

   #2. Experienced Josh Green (196-G-0, college: Arizona, currently plays in NBA). Green could not help the Dallas Mavericks (42-30) to beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (23-49). He scored 8 points in 17 minutes. The Dallas Mavericks (42-30) lost 121-136 on the road to the Timberwolves. The Regular Season already ended in the NBA. This year Green's overall stats are: 2.6ppg and 2.0rpg in 39 games he played so far.

   #3. Dominic Gilbert (198-G/F-96, college: UBC, currently plays in Holland) contributed to an easy victory against the leader Yoast United (16-5) 85-70 in the Dutch DBL on Tuesday night. Gilbert scored 6 points and grabbed 8 rebounds in 20 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 Quarter-Finals. It's Gilbert's first season with the team. This year his overall stats are: 6.8ppg, 3.4rpg and 1.5apg in 22 games. Gilbert has a dual citizenship: Australian and Croatian.

   #4. Ryan Beisty (200-F-95, college: Regis Univ., currently plays in United Kingdom) contributed to a Plymouth Raiders' victory against the closely-ranked London Lions (3-3) 92-80 in the British BBL in Tuesday night's game. He recorded 9 points and grabbed 7 rebounds. It was the game of the round between two top 4 ranked teams. Plymouth University Raiders (5-1) is placed first in the BBL. Beisty's overall stats this season are: 3.3ppg and 2.9rpg. He is another player who holds two passports: Australian and British.

   #5. Taiga Cantor (201-F-98, college: Vermont Tech, currently plays in Japan) was not able to help Osaka Evessa (35-20) in their last game. Despite Cantor's good performance the second-placed Osaka Evessa (35-20) lost 84-97 in Kariya to the lower-ranked (#3) Aishin Sea Horses in the West group. He scored 10 points and grabbed 7 rebounds in 23 minutes. It was Osaka Evessa's first loss after three consecutive victories. The Regular Season already ended. It's Cantor's first season with the team. This year Cantor's overall stats are: 1.6ppg and 1.3rpg in 19 games.