Sydney Kings star Dejan Vasiljevic will fulfil a lifelong dream later this month when he makes his Australian Boomers debut, as part of the squad's FIBA World Cup Asia qualifying campaign.
Named as part of Mike Kelly's 12-person squad on Thursday, the 25-year-old sharpshooter will pull on the green and gold for the first time during his senior career on Thursday, August 25 at Bahrain's Khalifa Sport City.
Vasiljevic, who recently returned from playing for the Phoenix Suns at the 2022 NBA Summer League, and his squad will then return to Australian soil and play Iran on Monday, August 29 at Bendigo Stadium.
"Representing Australia at this level has been a long time coming and I couldn't be more excited," said, Vaseljevic, who represented his country at a junior level on four occasions.
"I could have been involved in the Boomers' previous Asian qualifying games but decided to go down the NBA Summer League route.
"But I'm stoked to finally get the chance to pull on that jersey, which has been a goal of mine for a very long time - especially with this strong squad we've got assembled."
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Joining the Victorian native in the Boomers squad are Perth Wildcats trio Todd Blanchfield, Mitch Norton and Luke Travers, Kagawa Five Arrows duo Angus Brandt and Rhys Vague, Centre of Excellence pair Rory Hawke and Alex Toohey, Illawarra Hawks Sam Froling and Alex Mudronja, Shimane Susanoo Magic's Nick Kay and Adelaide 36ers' Mitch McCarron,
"I'm excited to be a part of that Boomers' culture and help it continue to grow - I know the squad has already won the 'rose gold' but everyone, including my, goal is to claim that gold medal," said Vasiljevic, who recorded a triple-double for Diamond Valley in the NBL1 at the weekend.
"The squad has had a great qualification series thus far and only needs a couple more wins to lock in their spot at the world cup, which I'm keen to help with, starting with our game in Bahrain before returning to play in front of our friends and families in Bendigo.
"Being the player I am, I'm going to do whatever the coaches want me to do, from scoring to playing defence and doing those one percenters to help us win, which is what representing your country is all about."
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Once these commitments are wrapped up, Vasiljevic and his teammates, who start their pre-season on Monday, August 22, will ramp up preparations for defending their NBL crown.
"Since we won that title, this off-season has been non-stop but all these experiences will help me greatly in the upcoming NBL campaign," he said.
"I've thoroughly enjoyed being able to make the most of my off-season, after a couple of interrupted pre-seasons due to injury.
"I have complete faith in the squad we've assembled and look forward to doing whatever it takes to go back-to-back."
