Move to calm NBA’s nerves over punch-up
BASKETBALL Australia has moved quickly to assure NBA clubs their Boomers players would be safe on national duty in the emotion-charged and politically sensitive fallout to the savage all-in brawl in the Philippines.
Milwaukee players Matthew Dellavedova and Thon Maker were part of the squad involved in the ugly scenes in the FIBA World Cup qualifier on Monday night.
Maker was one of the four Australians ejected for his role – after being punched from behind in the shocking melee – along with nine Filipinos.
Dellavedova was on the Boomers bench, which was kept on the sidelines by coaching staff to avoid being thrown out of the game.
Australia are considered a strong medal chance at next year’s World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, with most of the squad to be made up of NBA talent.
Ben Simmons (Philadelphia), Joe Ingles (Utah), Patty Mills (San Antonio), Aron Baynes (Boston), Jonah Bolden (Philadelphia), and Dante Exum (free agent), along with the Bucks duo, will form the world-class core.
NBA clubs can be reluctant to release players for international duty at the best of times.
They do not need any extra motivation to keep their highly paid talent on ice in the off-season and the vision of Boomers getting hit with chairs, kicked and cowardpunched would make them nervous.
Basketball Australia CEO Anthony Moore initiated discussions with the Bucks yesterday and will speak to the other NBA clubs to ease concerns.
“We have really good relationships with the general management of NBA clubs. It’s a continual discussion and dialogue we have about competition windows and camps,’’ Moore said. “It’s certainly something we’ll be picking up in the next couple of days with the NBA clubs.’’
The Philippines accused Boomer Daniel Kickert of hitting their players during the warm-up, which increased tensions. Vision has since emerged of a Filipino player tripping Kickert to spark the pre-game angst.
Given the long, footballlike World Cup qualification, it could be days before sanctions are handed out.