While they may not have made the trip to the Gold Coast to help the Boomers win a Commonwealth Games medal, Australia is well represented as the NBA steps into the business end of their season
A record number of Australians are in the NBA playoffs hoping to join the ranks of the six other Australians who have won an NBA championship.
Take a look at these Aussies who will be featuring in the playoffs this season.
Ben Simmons – Philadelphia 76ers
Born into Australian basketball royalty, Ben Simmons was destined for greatness the day he stepped onto the court.
The number one draft pick has set records that haven’t been seen in the league since the likes of Oscar Robertson and Magic Johnson. Simmons has been a triple-double machine and helped the 76ers on a record 10-match winning streak heading into the playoffs.
The 76ers are young and hungry and packed with a roster of potential match winners for years to come. Joel Embiid will re-join Simmons back in the line-up at some stage of the playoffs. The 76ers finished third in the Eastern Conference seedings and are a real chance of progressing to Eastern Conference Finals against the Raptors or Cavaliers.
Next Game – 19th April v Miami Heat
Matthew Dellavedova – Milwaukee Bucks
He may not look like your typical NBA player, but Matt Dellavedova has an NBA championship ring after spending some time with LeBron James at the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Aussie has been on the sidelines for the last two months and may struggle to break into a backcourt that includes 2017 Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon and veteran Eric Bledisloe.
Next Game – 21st April v Boston Celtics
Thon Maker- Milwaukee Bucks
Delly’s Aussie team-mate Thon Maker is likely to see more court time as a backup scoring option to Giannis Antetokounmpo.
Drafted at number eight, the Aussie big-man hasn’t had the meteoric rise of Simmons but does possess a few moves for league pundit to label him the next Kevin Garnett.
Next Game – 21st April v Boston Celtics
Patty Mills – San Antonio Spurs
While Aussie point-guard Patty Mills may not have the same status as David Robinson and Tim Duncan, he has established himself as a long-term player in the Spurs line-up. The Canberra kid has helped the Spurs to their 20th consecutive season in the playoffs, despite the side missing fifty wins for the season.
The Spurs have been decimated by injuries to a number of key players this season, including a long-term injury to All-Star Kawhi Leonard. While La Marcus Aldridge maybe providing the points, Mills will be bringing his unique brand of hustle to both ends of the floor.
The Spurs face the monumental task of having to overcome the defending champs in the first round. Mills gets the opportunity to test himself against the best in the business and the Aussie won’t be taking a backward step.
Next Game – 20th April v Golden State Warriors
Joe Ingles – Utah Jazz
Joe Ingles is coming off one of his best seasons in the league and while the Aussie may look like the Forrest Gump of the NBA world, he’s been able to claim a few major scalps this season.
Ingles has become one of the best three-point shooters in the league and has regularly torched the likes of Kevin Durant as the Jazz have been able to put together a run that them, well-placed to go deep in the playoffs.
If Ingles can find his range from beyond the arc, then a first-round upset against the Thunder could be on the cards.
Next Game – 19th April v Oklahoma City Thunder
Dante Exum- Utah Jazz
Dante Exum is that other Aussie point-guard that we haven’t seen for a majority of this season because of a long-term injury and the emergence of Donovan Mitchell at the Utah Jazz.
Exum built a niche for himself coming off the bench in the last month of the regular season to good effect. While he won’t have the same impact as some of the bigger names in the postseason, expect the Aussie to carve out a name for himself with a side that will give the major players in the league a few headaches in the postseason.
Next Game – 19th April v Oklahoma City Thunder
Aron Baynes – Boston Celtics
While he may have had one of the worst haircuts in the league for some time, Aron Baynes has made a name for himself at the Celtics.
The big-man comes off the bench behind Al Horford and has built a reputation similar to Andrew Bogut as a man who can provide some serious opportunities in the paint.
With the Celtics ravaged by injury this season expect the Aussie to have some more court time as Baynes goes up against the Milwaukee Bucks.