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Barnaby Joyce fears the decision to omit him from the Australian Boomers FIBA World Cup Squad may be politically motivated as the Armidale Lions shooting guard put many teams to the sword during this year’s New England Basketball season.
Coming off a triple-double performance against the Ben Lomond Frisbees last weekend, the former Nationals leader told The Advocate that he wasn’t expecting to receive the call up to the national side but is “nevertheless” disappointed by being overlooked.
“I’ve had a great season and I’ve ticked all the boxes,” he said.
“But look, I’m realistic. It would’ve been tough for a player my age to turn back the clock and ascend to the highest of highs, playing against the United States and the Tall Blacks as the Boomer’s shooting guard slash small forward. It would’ve been tough but I’ve had such a great season,”
“My field goal percentage against the Glen Innes Polar Bears was over 90%. I couldn’t be stopped. The only team in the comp that I’ve been troubled by was the Ebor Pigeons.”
Mr Joyce is well known in the New England Basketball competition.
The 56-year-old semi-retired politician famously refuses to wear appropriate sports shoes and prefers to wear his basketball singlet over his suit. Last week’s triple-double was the first to be done in a pair of brown Hush Puppies in any competition in Australia.
The Advocate reached out to Basketball Australia for comment but have yet to receive a reply.
More to come.
