Gliddon’s Boomer day
THREE years ago Cameron Gliddon was a “wide-eyed NBL guy” mixing it with NBA stars as he pushed for a spot in the Boomers’ Olympics squad.
Now the Brisbane Bullets skipper has the confidence he deserves to be in the frame to make the final 12 of this year’s star-studded World Cup group.
Gliddon is among the 18 players who will attend a selection camp in August in Melbourne that includes nine NBA players and seven returning members from the Rio Games. The squad is already touted as the best Australia has assembled as the men chase a maiden medal at a major international competition — and it is why Gliddon chose to play in the New Zealand NBL this off-season instead of heading to Europe.
The sharpshooting guard contributed an equal-team high 18 points in Canterbury’s victory over the Southern Huskies on Thursday night, and has no doubt he is much better prepared to put his name forward for the World Cup which unfolds in China from August 31.
“It is good to be able to train with those guys and see where you measure up,” Gliddon told the Mercury ahead of the Rams’ rematch against the Huskies at the Silverdome.
“I thought I did pretty well in 2016 so I am going in a lot more confident, rather than just being a wide-eyed NBL guy around the NBA guys.
“I am looking to do my best and from this New Zealand NBL season I should be in better shape than I was last time going in after I had sat out a little bit. I’m hoping that my fitness and sharpness can translate into a good camp.”
Gliddon said he has always held a desire to play in the NZNBL during the Australian the difference beoff season, but various circumstances have forced him to miss. He has been impressed with the quality of the competition, not only from the influx of imports but local New Zealand talent.
“I have been to Europe and it is a long way to go and not know really my situation in terms of playing time and how much I would get to improve,” he said of previous stints in Poland and Russia.
“Coming here, obviously knowing [coach] Mick Downer I knew what I was going to get in terms of coaching and coming to New Zealand being an import, I knew I would have a significant role in the team.
“That was definitely a big attraction for me.
“Three imports makes it really tough and also being from Australia, we don’t hear about many of the New Zealand juniors coming through.
“You come over and realise there are some really good players, you just haven’t heard of them.”