Hoops

All Time Boomers Team

I'd love to see Vlahov coming off the bench, his intensity, smarts and ability would be great fun to watch again (I mean with him not having to play high volume minutes in this team).

I think regardless if Longley is or isn't as good as Bogut, you'd have to be happy bringing him off the bench as like said above, his experience against all time great centres would be so invaluable.

As for international players, I don't see why we couldn't add a single player as per FIBA rules so where is a glaring weakness that they'd need to fill?

I think that Glen Saville and his versatility is being understated but maybe it isn't and this side is just too great for him to get a look in.

Barry Barnes, Lindsay Gaze, Dr Adrian Hurley, Phil Smyth, Brian Goordjian, Brett Brown or Andrej Lemanis for coach?

This forum has always had posters claim that players deserve this many minutes but we haven't seen it here, is that because it would be disrespectful to say that say Vlahov would only get ten minutes a game to come on and be a difference maker?

Tony Ronaldson always played above himself for the Boomers... probably make a 20 man "all time" squad..

Smyth as coach.

Good point about Baynes being slow.

Add to that Gaze’s lack of defense, Smythe’s slow ball, Heal’s streaky shooting and melt-downs, and uncertainty about whether Palubinskas or Davies could defend (I can’t remember back that far).

For a run and gun style of game, I would have loved to see prime Mills, Gaze, Ingles, Vlahov and Bogut together.

No he wasn't

If you go the other way, and you include naturalised players
then you have to factor in guys like Grace, Fisher, Loggins, etc.
Obviously in reality they could never play together, but those are some of the greatest players we've seen.

Longley missed a lot, but at his best was better than Bogut

One combination that would’ve been great to watch: prime Gaze and Bogut. Bogut’s passing and screening would’ve created so many great looks for him!

Simmons can't be in there if you're talking about players wearing the Boomers singlet. Maybe in 5 years time but he's produced very little in the green & gold as he hasn't been in the team. Baynes has done more for the Boomers

Comparing each player in terms of their impact for the Boomers AT THE TIME rather than against current standards, the initial list is still hard to beat, although I’d probably put Vlahov instead of Neilson, and Grace or Anstey instead of Simmons.

Much as I hated Vlahov, on the international front he was an absolute mongrel who often carried the Boomers on his back.

Grace was probably the best naturalised player for us, and you just cannot leave out Anstey.

Mills
Gaze
Ingles
Bradtke
Bogut

Heal
Delly
Mackinnon
Baynes
Longley

Smyth
Andersen

Naming Simmons already when he has yet to play a major tournament is a big call.
Would think a definite in 5 years but not now.

Mills>Heal
I think you are forgetting how good Mills has been for the boomers. Lead the olympics in scoring in London.

And are we only considering Australian born Boomers?

Good topic. Not sure whom i’d go with. Maybe swap out Dellavedova for Grace in OP’s list.

I think when it comes to a player like Vlahos you have to include the special criteria of lifting your game when you play for the Boomers and as such does he come in for a player with more NBA credentials but who seems apathetic about representing Australia and/or performed worse than we desire.

This is where those writing in need to remember what they've said about the potential Boomers World Cup squad and the deficiencies of some players.

Such a fun subject to talk about though

As usual, it comes down to your criteria.
Are you asking for the best players, who did or might once play for the Boomers, or the Best Boomers.

It always difficult to compare across eras, but you've got to give credit to guys such as:

Gaze
Heal
Smyth
Borner
Sengstock
Vlahov
Bradke

and of course Palubinskas was outstanding in the early 70's

Vlahov deserves consideration at the very least.

I disagree that Heal & Anstey are both instant inclusions although I disagree with Simmons being included if it is based on actual production. Replace him with Andersen and that 12 wouldn't be too far off my picks.