Hoops

Who is Australia’s greatest Boomer?

Kudos to Ray Borner and Larry Sengstockn also. It was comical how overmatched they were at times against the massive European teams, particularly the Soviets. Those two blokes were absolute warriors for Australia.

PeterJohn

Agree with Davies and Palubinskas. Smyth and Oscar Schmidt was a great rivalry too. I didn’t get to see Eddie Palubinskas play. I did see Gaze and Smyth live.

Different eras, different styles of play (but I think Smyth and Gaze did play 1 Olympics together, or did they?)

Vlahos and Bradtke are interesting inclusions in the mix. They both played out of position, or at least not to their natural games for that era. Bradtke was a Centre in the NBL, but slid to pf in international ball for most of his minutes. Vlahov was a natural pf, but was undersized at international level. Both of them really battled hard against bigger, stronger bodies (Vlahov most of the time, Bradtke when he played Centre to rest Langley etc). They were both warriors for Australia, and played with huge commitment.

I don't see how people get to the conclusion that "it has to be Gaze because he's the highest scorer" like that's the only stat that counts.

You know what I meant - he is the only Australian male inducted as a player. Lindsay is in but as a coach.

"Australia's first 5 time Olympian"

Bill Roycroft competed the five Summer Olympics from 1960 to 1976, as part of Australia's equestrian team. I suspect some other Australian athletes had competed 5 games before Gaze achieved that number in 2000, but haven't checked.

Nonetheless, Gaze remains the Australian men's basketballer to have participated in the most Summer Olympics.

" The only Australian in the FIBA Hall of Fame."

No. Not even the only Boomer. His father, Lindsay was a Boomer (player and coach) and is in the Hall of Fame as a coach. Michele Timms is in the Hall of Fame as a player. Al Ramsay is in the Hall of Fame as an administrator. I reckon that's all of the Aussie HoFers. I think Ramsay might have been the first Aussie into the FIBA HoF but can't recall for sure.

While I'd pick Andrew Gaze as the greatest Boomer, I'm surprised Smyth hasn't been mentioned by any posters, given suggestions such as Andersen, Longley and Vlahov.

Also agree with the wraps on Davies and Palubinskas. Wish I'd had the privilege of seeing Palubinskas play. I was fortunate enough to get to see Davies grace the court.

Second leading scorer in Olympic Games history it has to be Gaze.

Gaze.

As for the greatest active Boomer, I instantly thought Mills, but I realised that I might be underrating Ingles. There were tournaments where Ingles was arguably our best player, such as in 2012 and 2014. It's worth pointing out that Ingles has been to 5 major international tournaments, compared with Bogut and Mills 4 each. Although Mills has made himself available for 4 Oceania tournaments, compared with 3 and 1 for Ingles and Bogut respectively. As for Bogut, imagine without his injuries, we might've seen prime Bogut playing for the Boomers in 2010, 2012, and 2014. If Bogut played in 2012, and assuming he suits up next year, Bogut could've matched Gaze as a 5-time Olympian.

Ca ee

I think Andersen deserves a mention with that last group too.

Yeah Gaze....EASY.

The second highest scorer at both major FIBA competitions all time. Australia's first 5 time Olympian. Australia's first basketball household name.

The only Australian to have a signature move in "Team USA Basketball" from 1992.

Brett

Gaze. The only Australian in the FIBA Hall of Fame.

Pat Reidy

Gaze.

Sobey

Cadee hands down

Bradtke

Gaze easy.

Five time Olympian and second all-time leading scorer in both Olympic history & FIBA WC history.

Patty is awesome but it's Andrew Gaze for me.

Stats speak for themselves.

Isn't he the second highest scorer in Olympic history behind Oscar Schmidt?