Australian Basketball: Patty Mills is the right replacement for Dante Exum, says Andrej Lemanis

Australian basketball star Patty Mills will join the Boomers for the team’s FIBA Oceania Championship campaign against New Zealand on Saturday. Mills, an NBA championship winner with the San Antonio Spurs, will replace Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum in Australia’s lineup, after the latter tore his left ACL during the Boomers international friendly against Slovenia last Wednesday.

Boomers have lost an integral part of the team’s campaign in the Olympic qualifying series after Exum injured his left knee. However, coach Andrej Lemanis was able to immediately sketch a backup plan, calling out Mills to join Australia’s national team against the Tall Blacks. Lemanis described Mills as the “best-placed” player to come into Australia’s lineup quickly. He added that the 26-year-old Mills knows the Boomers’ system and style of play, which makes the Aussie point guard the best candidate to take Exum’s position.

"If we were going to add a player to replace Dante, we needed someone who can help us beat New Zealand and that is Patty Mills,” Lemanis said, Stuff reported.

The 46-year-old coach also admitted Exum’s injury is still haunting the team, but insisted the Boomers should move on and focus on the FIBA Oceania series on Aug. 15 in Melbourne and Aug. 18 in Wellington. The winner will qualify for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

Mills arrived in Australia on Monday afternoon and will join the Boomers’ practice on Tuesday. The 6-foot point guard said he had successfully recovered from his shoulder injury and will be ready for the Oceania Championships. He added that his focus now is helping his Boomers teammates qualify for Rio 2016.

"I'm looking forward to joining my Boomers teammates for this very important qualification series against New Zealand," Mills said, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.

Mills missed Australia’s European tour after being asked by the Spurs to do rehab work on his troublesome shoulder. Lemanis did not consider bringing Mills into the lineup when the latter declared his availability for the two-game New Zealand series, keeping Australia’s continuity. However, Exum’s unexpected exit eventually led to Mills’ reunion with the green and gold.

With Mills' addition, Saturday’s match at Rod Laver Arena is expected to be a sellout. The double-header will also feature the Opals against the Tall Ferns followed by Australia-New Zealand matchup.

Boomers: David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow, Andrew Bogut, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, Nate Jawai, Damian Martin, Patrick Mills, Brock Motum and Brad Newley.

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