2010 NBA Summer League play has tipped off and there are four Australians in action, flying the green and gold flag. Topping the lot are the Portland Trail Blazers, who I’m dubbing the Skippy Summer League team, featuring not one but two Aussies, in point guard Patty Mills and ranga big man, Luke Schenscher.
Meanwhile Joe Ingles is suiting up for the Golden State Warriors and Nathan Jawai is trying his luck with the Charlotte Bobcats as he tries to get back in game shape.
With the FIBA World Championships in Turkey fast approaching, all of these players, except for Schensch, will no doubt be members of the Boomers. Mills is in fine form and looking to impress in Summer League play to ensure that he is re-signed by the Blazers. Schenscher is a surprise inclusion on the Blazers squad after a less-than-inspiring NBL season. Ingles could be a dark horse after coming off some fine play in Spain with CB Granada — he played with the Warriors in last year’s Summer League too.
However the biggest question mark lies over the head of Jawai. The big man from Far North Queensland is well out of shape, as evidenced by his sluggish play in Australia’s recent three-game series against Argentina and desperately needs to regain both fitness and touch after returning from injury. After being pushed out of the Minnesota Timberwolves’ rotation due to Darko Millicic’s sudden importance, big Nate is looking for a chance with the Bobcats or any other team that likes what they see in his Summer League play.
The Associated Press has a great article on Jawai’s push for selection. Hopefully some team will see past his lack of conditioning and realise that you can’t teach the combination of size and touch that Jawai possesses.
“The 6-foot-10 center lumbered up and down the floor in 3 ineffective minutes in his summer league debut for the Charlotte Bobcats. Carrying at least 285 pounds, Jawai must get his pudgy body closer to how it looked when he was the rookie of the year in Australia’s NBL in 2008.
“Back then I was quicker, smaller. That’s what I’ve got to get back to right now,” Jawai said as he looked at his box score line of all zeros save for one foul and turnover. “I think I’d have more opportunities to stay here and be more effective.”
