Boomers stay cool on Creek

BOOMERS coach Andrej Lemanis holds no grudge against Mitch Creek for pulling out of the Australian team on the eve of the Commonwealth Games and fully supports the Adelaide star’s bid to make the NBA.

Creek and 36ers teammate Matt Hodgson (knee surgery) are late withdrawals from the Boomers squad and will be replaced by Mitch Norton and Lucas Walker in the Australian team, which begins its campaign against Canada in Cairns on Friday. The replacements came from a wider squad of 18 players that had to be submitted by the end of February.

Creek has been the best player for the Boomers in the FIBA Asia Cup and World Cup qualifiers but will miss the Commonwealth Games after opting to link with German club BG Gottingen, which will be a springboard into the NBA Summer League and a possible contract in the world’s best competition.

Lemanis said the Boomers knew about Creek’s intention several weeks ago.

“It was difficult for Mitch because he loves being a part of the Boomers program,” he said.