NBL superstar Mitch Creek has revealed how the COVID-19 pandemic is affecting Australians’ bids to make it into the NBA.
It comes with Boomers star Dante Exum on the verge of being rewarded with a new NBA contract with his former side Utah Jazz, worth a reported $20 million over three seasons.
Exum’s NBA future was in limbo, but he had received overwhelming support from a number of leading voices following his standout Olympic campaign.
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Exum’s impending deal follows the signing of big man Jock Landale, who was also rewarded for his heroics during Australia’s bronze medal triumph at the Tokyo Olympics, inking a contract with the San Antonia Spurs after previously playing in the NBL.
And while Australia is now the fourth most-represented country in the NBA, behind USA, Canada and France, it’s arguably as difficult as ever for local basketball stars to make it into the league due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Creek, who recently had stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Minnesota Timberwolves, admits the pandemic has caused him some headaches in finding a new NBA club, while currently playing for the South East Melbourne Phoenix in the NBL.
“That’s (making the NBA) the number one goal for me at the moment,” Creek told Wide World of Sports.
“We’ve had the ability to do that over the last two years, COVID has played a massive part of that.”
Creek’s stint in the USA is well documented. The 29-year-old has started from the bottom, fighting for contracts by playing in the NBA’s Summer League and G League before signing deals in the big league.
“We had deals lined up and that’s the pathway… but the idea now is to get into this NBL season, play a great season as a team and personally. Work on my craft and get better and hopefully get another chance to play over there,” Creek added.
“We’re in talks with teams and we have been the entire time. When the world settles down…. those pathways open up a little bit easier for international players. A lot of the guys getting re-signed now are locals and Americans, and draft kids and they’re getting picked up on longer-term deals.
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“[Covid] I think definitely is making it hard for internationals to get picked up.
“If you’re playing in Europe, sometimes it’s a little bit easier … but at the same time, it depends on what the team wants.
“To get in is very hard, but once you’re in it’s easier to stay there. You’ve got to wait and if the time’s right, the time’s right. If it’s not you take it on the chin and keep working.”
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Creek was speaking to WWOS on behalf of the new release of NBA 2K22.
“It’s been quite different,” Creek said of NBA 2K22.
“There’s a lot of different features that have been added that for me make it a lot more appealing and entertaining. It’s more fun and you can play both sides of the ball, you’re not just an offensive guy playing stick defence.
“There are capabilities to go out and be a defender and that’s what I pride my game on – being a defensive-minded player. To have the extra capabilities with being a lockdown defender, blocking shots, contesting… I have really enjoyed that side of things more.
“It’s the most advanced season we’ve had. The similarities and crossplay between real life and what it is, I think it’s great for kids to know that and see that if us as pro athletes are seeing how important it is to be able to be simulated with basketball, I think it’s a huge message with how kids are struggling at the moment with all these lockdowns.
“It keeps the mind active… it’s great for them to keep something on task to build a career or player when you can’t go outside or do that in person.”
