Magnay primed for Olympic spot

After over two seasons stuck in injury hell, the stars look to have aligned at the right time for Will Magnay. The JackJumpers center can now call himself an NBL champion, and he’s been named in the Boomers’ extended 22-man roster ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Magnay managed to play 27 games for Tasmania this season – his most in a single campaign since he arrived at the JackJumpers – and, like any of the 22 players selected in this Boomers squad, there’s a real chance he could be on the plane to Paris.

While Australia can boast the likes of current NBA centers Duop Reath and Jock Landale, talented Next Star Rocco Zikarsky, and fellow NBL duo Sam Froling and Keanu Pinder at the five spot, Peter Hooley believes Magnay is a must-include on Brian Goorjian’s final roster of 12.

“The ways he’s playing since he’s been healthy, I think he’s got to go to Paris,” Hooley said on a special edition of NBL Now. “You look at the teams that have had success when Aron Baynes was dominant for us in the green and gold it was the terror screens, he was not afraid to meet athletic American and European guards, wings, or whatever it is at the rim.

“He’s going to try and block absolutely everything, he’s going to throw his weight around. We saw Magnay do that consistently and all of that helps the guards who want to get up into the passing lane a bit more.

“He’s not going to be playing 25 minutes a game, but to have those spot minutes and the opportunity to throw that strong, athletic body out there is unique to what we already have.

“I’m looking at it and I think if he goes into camp and continues playing the way he is, you have to take him, because he’s different to the super skilled bigs we have in Reath and Landale.”

Former Boomer Ryan Broekhoff added he believes the different skillset Magnay possesses could add a new dimension to Australia’s defence if required.

“I don’t know if there’s a better rim protector on the list – maybe big Rocco – but having a rim protector like that is just enormous,” Broekhoff said.

“Having an anchor defensively was really missed during the World Cup. He’s battled injuries for the past couple of years, it’s been a tough time for him … but to see him get a good run of games and form and his ability to change the game on the defensive end is very special and something I think could fit well into the Boomers squad.

“How he fits with some of the athletic wings who can get up into the passing lanes and cause disruptions and deflections, but if they gamble we’ve got a protector who can change shots, block shots and start a fast break at the rim.”

Magnay is part of a nine-strong group of NBL24 participants to be named to the extended roster alongside the aforementioned Froling, Pinder and Zikarsky, as well as Chris Goulding, DJ Vasiljevic, Will McDowell-White, Matthew Dellavedova, and JackJumpers teammate Jack McVeigh.

Notable NBL alumni within the group also includes Josh Giddey, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Patty Mills, Reath, Landale, Xavier Cooks and Jack White.

Even though there are still ten names that need to be cut from the extended squad, Broekhoff says it’s the names that missed out that indicate the rapidly expanding talent pool in Australian basketball.

“There’s just not enough space to fit all of the talent coming through in Australia,” Broekhoff said.

“Even NBL players who are probably fringe and didn’t get a call-up this time like Creek and Humphries and players like that who are playing at a high level here in the NBL, it’s just a stacked list.

“It’s just a puzzle piece that’s going to be exciting to see how it all comes together.”