'Got next': Just who is Australia's new 'FIBA Patty'?

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Ten seconds left, sideline out of bounds, Australia in the bonus, down by one to win the 2028 Olympic Games Gold Medal — that's the scenario.

Who is Boomers’ head coach Adam Caporn drawing up the play for? For the past decade it's been "FIBA" Patrick Sammie Mills AM.

Mills, 37, will be 40 in 2028 and the likelihood of one of the greatest closers in Boomers history being in Los Angeles is slim to none.

So, who is Australia's new killer? Who can create their own shot? React to the defence? Improvise when the defence shuts down the first option? Steph Curry the heck out of it?

Between now and 2028, there is the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar from August 27 to September 12, 2027, which undoubtedly will help shape the roster for Los Angeles – and an opportunity to audition for the role.

Possible Boomers 2028 Line-up

1. PG Kyrie Irving
2. PG Tyrese Proctor
3. SG Dyson Daniels
4. SG Josh Green
5. SF Josh Giddey
6. SF Johnny Furphy
7. SF Jack McVeigh
8. F Ben Simmons
9. F Alex Toohey
10. C Jock Landale
11. C Duop Reath
12. C Rocco Zikarsky

Right there: Jaylin Galloway; Matisse Thybulle; Xavier Cooks; Lachlan Olbrich; Alex Condon; Oscar Cluff; Reyne Smith; William "Davo" Hickey; Taran Armstrong; Luke Travers, Ben Henshall, and Jacob Furphy.

Speculation Kyrie Irving wants to play for the Boomers in 2028 quelled when he blew out his knee in early March but the potential is still there. But if Melbourne-born Irving, who will be 36 in 2028, is a Boomer then without a doubt, he is where the ball is going. There's a lot to happen between now and then though.

Australia has more NBA and WNBA basketball players per capita than the United States. But our challenge is we don't — right now — have a legit closer. Every player in the above list is either in the NBA, has NBA experience or is on the verge.

Three years is plenty of time for "who's got next" and the potential squad will feature many speculations, ins and outs, given the emergence and elevation of Dash Daniels, 17, Golden State Warriors two-way player Taran Armstrong, former NBA player Jaylin Galloway's MVP performance at the 2025 Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia after recovering from a shoulder injury, Lachlan Olbrich starting out on his NBA career, Luke Travers sticking thick with Cleveland Cavaliers on a two-way contract for 2025-26.

So, where does that leave us in August 2025?

Right now, The Boomers don’t have a legit “FIBA Patty” closer, but:

1. Tyrese Proctor is “The Closer” clubhouse leader because of his ability to create his own shot off the dribble and out of the pick and roll. He obviously needs to force his way into the team but his 35-point performance at the 2025 Summer League in Las Vegas was more a coming out party than proof of concept at the NBA level. Proctor, 21, has elite handles, a step-back three and can get to the rim off the dribble with speed to burn. He’ll be 24 in 2028 and in the third year of his four-year $8.69 USD million deal (AUD $13.2M) with the Cleveland Cavaliers – going head-to-head with Donovan Mitchell in practice every day – while learning more and more about his craft. Proctor spent three years at blue chip Duke University and as a Junior started 38 games, averaging 12.4 points, three boards and 2.2 assists as a secondary option. Duke produces Closers: the ultimate college closer Christian Laettner; Grant Hill; Jayson Tatum; and potential Boomers’ teammate Kyrie Irving.
2. Jack McVeigh, in broken play, is a proven killer (see Tasmania JackJumpers Game 3 of the 2024 NBL Grand Final Series). McVeigh has returned to the NBL after spending a year in the Houston Rockets G-League program and is without doubt the best shooter on the team right now but scoring out of a SLOB would be a challenge especially off the dribble against an all-world on-ball defender. He’ll also be 32 in 2028 and there are some younger players knocking on the door.
3. Johnny Furphy is also showing signs of being the guy. No one will ever forget the nasty poster on Noa Essengue in the 2025 Summer League but there is way more to Furphy’s game than a single highlight. He’ll turn 21 on December 8, 2025, which means he’ll be 24 in Los Angeles. Furphy is 203cm (6’8) and an athlete – a superior athlete. Furphy, who plays for the Indiana Pacers, can finish and can shoot the spot-up three and is starting to show glimpses off the dribble. He’s an 81% free throw shooter. Getting him the ball around half-way in a high pick and roll in three years as he continues to work on his game and we might just have the closer we need.
4. Josh Giddey can get to the rim off pick and roll and shoot the runner but he’s yet to develop an elite step back, or pull-up three, which is the staple of the modern closer. He needs that in his bag to be a legit option. He is an exceptional creator off the dribble and can hit an open shooter so is dangerous if he can get downhill.
5. Dyson Daniels is one of the best perimeter and on-ball defenders in the world but, similarly to Giddey is still developing his offensive game. It’ll come, no doubt, but right now he hits open and contested threes but creating for himself off the dribble – instead of out of a catch –isn’t yet in his bag (yet).
6. Jaylin Galloway has put himself into the frame at least for the 2026 FIBA World Cup squad after his MVP performance at the 2025 Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia. Galloway, now fully recovered from a shoulder injury has “had a taste of the NBA” and is a legit scorer, can create his own shot and can get to the rim and finish. Galloway is back and a rock-solid season with the Sydney Kings in NBL26 will only boost his credentials.
7. Josh Green is an elite defender and score the ball but isn’t our closer. Green averaged 6.7 points in 2024-25 for the Charlotte Hornets on 43 percent from the field in 27 minutes. He’s not on the floor to score. He’s a big guard defender.
8. Reyne Smith is the second-best shooter in the Australian set-up but he is a catch-and-shoot wing that isn’t known for creating his own shot. It would be tough to have Smith anywhere on the floor except in the corner waiting to win the game.
9. William “Davo” Hickey changes games – he’s an X-Factor and without him the Boomers wouldn’t have won their third straight gold medal at the Asia Cup. He has no fear and if the play is drawn up for him, he wouldn’t hesitate. But he’s got to work on his range and three-point percentage to give him the opportunity to create an open shot and to make the team. Hickey will be 29 in 2028.
10. Alex Toohey isn’t a first-pass option in a SLOB now and is more likely a screener in a high pick and roll. He can finish at the rim. His development at the Golden State Warriors may change that but in three years there will more than likely be other options.
11. Jock Landale is a secondary option in the pick and roll with Giddey or Daniels and certainly not having the play drawn up for him coming out of the time out. He would absolutely be put into an action but not as a primary option. Getting more minutes at the Memphis Grizzlies in the 2025-26 NBA season is well deserved.
12. Duop Reath, similarly to Landale, is a secondary option out of the pick and roll. Reath’s spot for Los Angeles is under threat with the emergence of NCAA National Champion Alex Condon and Purdue transfer Oscar Cluff.
13. Rocco Zikarsky has a long way to go and in three years will be just 22 in 2028. His upside is immense but few coaches in world basketball draw up a play for a big in the post nowadays. He is definitely a catch in the high post for cutters or shooters in the corners if Caporn wants to play it that way.
14. Ben Simmons is not a closer and will never be. The likelihood of him being on the floor given his poor free throw shooting percentage and reluctance to shoot the ball in the clutch won’t change between now and 2028. As it stands, his position, regardless of whether he wants to play or not is in serious doubt given the emergence of the next crop of Australian NBA players.

This list will develop, change order, have players added and subtracted as the clock ticks and tournaments are played. But there is one certainty, Patty Mills has left a giant hole in the clutch for the Boomers.

The next generation is here – and it’s arguably the most talented group we’ve had it just needs its Mills, Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal.

It needs a clutch-time killer.

About the Author

Peter Brown is the head coach of the Sydney Comets Women’s Youth League team in the Waratah Basketball League in NSW. He is also the assistant coach for the Comets NBL1 women’s team in the NBL East Conference. Peter is a 30-year journalist, starting as a sports reporter at the NT News in the early 1990s. He played junior basketball for the Northern Territory at national championships from U16 to U20 and for the Territory’s senior men’s team at numerous international tournaments. Peter has been a basketball fan since the early 80s, especially the NBA. Basketball is his passion — and his opinions his own. Email peter.brown@basketball.com.au with feedback. Any email feedback on articles sent to Peter can be published on basketball.com.au for others to read.