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Patty Mills fears for Boomers future as Olympics approach

Murray WenzelThe West Australian
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Patty Mills has been to three Olympics but Tokyo 2021 is likely to be his last.
Camera IconPatty Mills has been to three Olympics but Tokyo 2021 is likely to be his last. Credit: Andy Brownbill/AP

Patty Mills has detailed his fears for the Boomers once he retires and put the onus on his teammates to make it work as the prospect of a three-day turnaround between an NBA title and an Olympic campaign firms.

Three-time Olympian, Mills, right, will lead the world No.3 side into July’s delayed Tokyo showpiece seeking a maiden international medal and vindication after eerily similar fourth-place finishes at the -previous Games and World Cup.

Tokyo’s opening ceremony is scheduled for the day after a deciding seventh NBA Finals game on July 22, with the Olympic basketball competition to begin two days after that.

Mills, who last month played his 784th NBA game to surpass Andrew Bogut as the most-capped Australian in the league, is posting career-best numbers and has guaranteed he’ll back up for his last shot at a gold medal.

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His team, San Antonio Spurs, sit sixth in the western conference while Joe Ingles’ Utah Jazz and the Philadelphia 76ers, -featuring key squad members Ben Simmons and Matisse -Thybulle, occupy top spot in the west and east respectively ahead of their clash today.

Aron Baynes’ Toronto Raptors (seventh in the east) are also firming after a slow start while even Josh Green’s Dallas Mavericks (ninth in the west) could make a finals run behind MVP candidate Luka Doncic, leaving the strong likelihood of at least one Australian going deep into the play-offs.

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United States team officials have already asked the IOC and FIBA for scope to add or replace players mid-tournament.

But with athletes not set to arrive in Tokyo any earlier than five days before their event anyway, and a pre-Olympic bubble proposed in Las Vegas for USA, Spain and Australia to prepare, Mills is bullish.

“If that happens then it’s a decent problem to have,” he told AAP of the potential for a Boomers squad member having to cut their NBA championship celebrations short.

“But there will be no room for excuses to make it happen, whether we’re there on the last day (of the NBA season) or not.

“It’s testimony to who we are as players and how strongly connected we are to Australia, even though we live on the other side of the world.

“We’re professionals too and part of that is being able to adapt and adjust on the fly, so if something like that does come up, it’s about finding a way to make it happen.”

Mills is comfortable speaking on behalf of Baynes (34) and Ingles (33), who have both expressed their desire to back up for what will likely be their last Games.

But with Simmons (24), Thybulle (23), Green (20), top NBA draft prospect Josh Giddey (18) and even injury-hit Dante Exum (25) among arguably the Boomers’ strongest-ever squad, Mills senses the long-term importance of their Tokyo tilt.

“Our bond will never be broken and the importance of this leadership group on the team now, and the future Boomers team too, is very important and we all understand that,” Mills said of his relationship with Ingles, Baynes, the retired Bogut and fellow core member Matthew Dellavedova.

“It is a concern (that the Boomers’ culture will deteriorate once they depart) but that’s why we’re doing what we’re trying to do and deal with that.

“It can be replicated; it’s all about the development of the program and establishing something culturally so strong that it’s able to live on.”

He mentioned 2019 World Cup standout and current Melbourne United product Jock Landale (25) as the ideal candidate to drive the next Boomers wave but was confident NBA All-Star Simmons and even Thybulle, who spent his childhood in Sydney, were on board.

“It’s selfish to come in, play a couple of games for Australia and be gone,” Mills said.

“It’s up to us to go above and beyond to do all we can to leave the program in better shape than when we came into it — that’s the mentality.

“I was really pleased to hear from Matisse and how genuinely excited he was to be with our group and that’s come through word of mouth (in the NBA) about playing for the Boomers.

“And Benny has always had that feeling, it’s just been about working out as a pro as you go with what’s best.

“I don’t want to speak for him, but a healthy Ben and one that’s motivated for the green and gold is important and he has said he’s all in.”

BOOMERS OLYMPIC SQUAD: Deng Adel, Aron Baynes, Ryan Broekhoff, Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Isaac Humphries, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Mitch McCarron, Will McDowell-White, Will Magnay, Thon Maker, Patty Mills, Brock Motum, Mitch Norton, Duop Reath, Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle, Brian Goorjian (coach).

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