These are exciting times for green and gold basketball. Andrew Bogut became the third Australian in two years to win an NBA championship after his Golden State Warriors defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers and compatriot Matthew Dellavedova in a thrilling finals series. Earlier in the season history was made when four Australians shared the court for the first time, while the future looks equally bright with both Ben Simmons and Thon Maker being potential number one draft picks in coming years.
As the dust settles on an exciting denouement to the playoffs, we have rated the performances of Australia’s seven-strong NBA contingent, with grades awarded relative to expectations.
Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers)
One of the most persistent storylines (both positive and negative) of the past month, the rapid rise of Dellavedova is nothing short of astonishing. Undrafted in 2013 after four years at college, the point guard from country Victoria scrapped his way to a barely-guaranteed contract with the Cavaliers. Fast forward to the present, and this scrawny 24-year-old is winning games in the NBA finals while having his named chanted by an adoring Cleveland crowd.
Although Dellavedova underwhelmed at the tail-end of the finals, evidently exhausted following a brief stint in hospital, he was never realistically going to fill the large shoes of injured team-mate Kyrie Irving on a consistent basis. Nevertheless, his play-off heroics again, again and again make Dellavedova more than deserving of top-marks. As LeBron James explained of the determined Australian, “He gives us everything until the tank is empty, and he has a small little reserve tank that he continues to work through. He’s huge for us.”
Following such well-publicised performances, Dellavedova’s manager will be busy over the American summer. Yet while the restricted free agent is certain to attract lucrative offers from elsewhere, it would be hugely out of character for Dellavedova to abandon the opportunity for NBA success in pursuit of dollars. Instead, expect Delly-mania to remain alive and well in Cleveland come October.
Grade: A
Andrew Bogut (Golden State Warriors)
To his detractors, Bogut was no more than a bit-part player as Golden State marched almost inexorably to the Larry O’Brien Trophy. In spite of that shiny new championship ring, the former number one draft pick’s absence in the last two games against Cleveland has been noted, as has his limited scoring (10 points in the six games).
Such criticisms, though, are misconceived. While the towering centre may have fallen victim to tactical manoeuvrings in the finals, Bogut played a crucial role for the Warriors throughout the season. Although the numbers might not show it (averaging 6.3 points and 8.1 rebounds), Bogut is the crux of Golden State’s defence and creates important space for team-mates in attack – his screens are a core element of their offensive play.
After a promising start to his NBA career, Bogut fell victim to injury after injury and seemed destined for a slow decline to eventual retirement. Through hard-work and selflessness, Australia’s NBA veteran has added his name to the short list of compatriots with a digit adorned by those much-sought championship rings. That, surely, is a feat worthy of high praise, regardless of individual playing time in the finals.
Grade: B+
Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz)
Making his long-awaited NBA entrance after a career in Europe, it appeared the ascension of Ingles to basketball’s top stage could have been over before it began when the Los Angeles Clippers waived him in late October. The 27-year-old was thrown a lifeline by Utah, and was promptly catapulted into the starting five where he was soon clocking up 21.2 minutes per game – well above anything he would have achieved in California.
While his five points, 2.3 assists and 2.2 rebounds averages are respectable if not outstanding, Ingles became an important leadership figure on a young Jazz team. He was part of Grantland’s Fourth-Annual Luke Walton All-Stars, for “journeymen thriving in unexpectedly large roles”, and will likely continue earning substantial minutes alongside countryman Dante Exum next season.
Grade: B
Aron Baynes (San Antonio Spurs)
The butt of more than a few jokes following his torrid outing against slam-happy Blake Griffin, Baynes can nevertheless feel content with a strong season in San Antonio. Off the back of an impressive World Cup performance for the Boomers, the imposing centre almost doubled his average minutes per game from the previous campaign, with corresponding increases in scoring and rebounding.
Baynes also cemented his position in the Spurs rotation, thanks initially to team-mate injuries and then good play, appearing in 70 of 82 regular season games. While the 2.08 metre (6’ 10”) behemoth is never going to be a marquee big-man, his consistency and multiple double-double performances highlighted a much improved season.
Baynes is now a free agent, although San Antonio retain qualifying offer rights, and it remains to be seen whether the burly Australian will stay or pursue opportunities elsewhere. Fans of rock band Spuran Spuran, featuring Baynes alongside fellow players and the team’s coyote mascot, will no doubt be disappointed if the “Head Banger” departs.
Grade: B
Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs)
In the space of three weeks last June/July, Mills went from the ecstasy of earning an NBA championship ring to the agony of facing an extended spell on the sidelines to repair a torn rotator cuff. After asserting himself as a dynamic sixth-man with the defensive hustle and three-point range to rival the best, assisting his San Antonio Spurs side to the title in the process, Mills rapidly fell back to earth. Unsurprisingly, his 2014/15 season suffered as a result.
Originally given a seven-month rehabilitation time-frame, the 26-year-old Canberran returned from injury in late December and immediately rallied his team to a win over Houston. Yet Mills looked rusty in the ensuing months, struggling to regain form despite the occasional glimpse of excellence. Most tellingly, the sharp shooter’s three point percentage dipped from 43% in 2013/14 to 34%, with a commensurate decline in points per game.
While the Mills of old returned for patches of a thrilling playoff series against the Los Angeles Clippers, San Antonio’s game seven loss meant an early exit for the Australian. More will be expected of him come October. And bonus points for this piece of comedy gold.
Grade: B–
Dante Exum (Utah Jazz)
Grading the rookie season of Utah’s other Australian is no easy task. As the number five pick in a talent-packed NBA draft, Exum has failed to meet expectations: his statistics compare unfavourably to those of fellow lottery selections, and the guard looked lost on the parquet at times. Yet considered as a 19-year-old transitioning from high school basketball to the best league in the world and the assessment is much kinder: Exum showed glimpses of his fantastic potential and built fruitful partnerships with several team-mates.
The reality, of course, is somewhere in the middle. Exum emerged as a starter for the Jazz, notched up double digit hauls not infrequently and showed great defensive awareness. Conversely, the Australian Institute of Sport youth product was occasionally schooled by experienced opposition and averaged a mere 2.4 assists per game – far from ideal for a pass-first point guard.
There were always going to be teething pains on Exum’s path to basketball stardom, and his rookie year has been a mixed bag. With a year of NBA experience under his belt, a dominant Summer League and patient pre-season could set the stage for a much-improved sophomore campaign.
Grade: C+
Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls)
Selected with the 49th pick in the 2014 draft, Bairstow was always going to struggle to earn playing time on a crowded Bulls roster. Despite a strong showing at the Basketball World Cup, Bairstow was unable to out-muscle the likes of Taj Gibson, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol for a regular rotation position at club-level, ending the season with a measly average of 3.6 minutes per game.
While the 24-year-old won’t be panicking just yet, thanks to the relative security of a three year contract, Bairstow will be well aware that 2015/16 could make or break his NBA career. The power forward has demonstrated his determination before – sticking out four years at college instead of chasing professional offers overseas – and has the physicality and shooting accuracy to become a reliable rotation player. Bairstow will need a considerable uptick in minutes, though, if he is to prove his worth in Chicago.
Grade: N/A
