Boom times
GIANT Boomer Nick Kay (right), in Hobart this weekend for the NBL Blitz, says the pain of Australia’s World Cup exit will only inspire the team to go for gold at the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. The Boomers lost to eventual world champion Spain in double overtime in the Cup semi-final.
THE pain of the Boomers’ World Cup exit will burn and inspire the Australian men’s team ahead of next year’s Tokyo Olympics, says surprise star Nick Kay.
Kay and his Perth Wildcats teammates will be in Tasmania this weekend for the NBL Blitz, with the 206cm power forward turning heads with major minutes and impact as the Boomers finished fourth in the World Cup in China.
Australia lost to eventual World Cup champion Spain in double overtime before being overrun in the last quarter for bronze by France to miss the men’s first medal. Kay averaged eight points and five rebounds a game during the World Cup, and became the first Boomer to record a doubledouble at a World Cup or Olympic knockout game when he scored 16 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the semi-final loss to Spain.
“There are some good things coming up for this team,” Kay, 27, said.
“Obviously the guys are devastated in the locker room afterwards but that just shows you how important it is to wear that green and gold jersey because you play for everyone and you want to do your best for your country and teammates.
“If there is a positive out of it, the boys had to wait three years for redemption now we only have to wait one year. I think it is going to be right at the forefront for the next year and hopefully that will help us take one step further next year.”
The Wildcats are synonymous with success, having played in the past 33 consecutive NBL finals and winning a league record nine championships, including last season’s and four of the past six.
“It is just the Wildcats culture — it is unselfishness, it is competitiveness of the group and it is the one percenters and the extra efforts made by the group,” Kay said.
“And not just by the group — the people in the front office, the support staff, and it resonates through the whole club and the community.
“That is a big part of it and that is what we are going to try and achieve again this year.”
Kay said he was fully aware of Tasmania’s push to return to the NBL and backed the move.
“The big thing is it shows the growth of the NBL in Australia and of the sport in the world,” Kay said.
“Expansion is part of the sport and to have a Tassie team would be great and show how much the league has grown.
“It would add another level of competitiveness to the league and hopefully the Blitz is a good promotion for that, boost the push down there and allow it to take the next step.”
The Wildcats play the Illawarra Hawks (6pm on Friday at the Kingborough Sports Centre) and the Sydney Kings (1pm on Sunday at the DEC) during the Blitz.