Brian Goorjian is keen to see what the best of the NBL can produce with the national team, as the Boomers’ preparations ramp up for this year’s Paris Olympics. 

The Australian team has a pair of Asia Cup qualifiers next month, before the Olympics in August, with the veteran coach identifying several current and future stars in line for a jersey.

“(Mitch) Creek, he’s a guy you look at, give him an opportunity, see what he looks like in these games. If you like that, you bring him in (to the Paris camp) with a legit chance of making the Olympics, because you’re not wasting a guy like that’s time,” Goorjian told Code Sports. 

Goorjian said Adelaide sharpshooter DJ Vasiljevic was in the mix to play, highlighting his “international capabilities”, while young gun Jaylin Galloway and Next Stars Alex Toohey and Rocco Zikarsky could gain some valuable court-time. 

The Boomers finished tenth at the most recent FIBA World Cup, despite boasting the biggest contingent of NBA stars in the team’s history.

The Paris Olympics will be Goorjian’s last as national team coach, with the 70-year-old stating he’s ready for a return to coaching domestically.

Australia faces Korea in Bendigo on February 22, before backing up in Jakarta three days later against Indonesia. 

Read the full story here >> Crosscourt NBL Boomers special: Latest news and rumours out of the 2023-24 season