Basketball Australia (BA) must cash in on "the country's most marketable sporting team" to meet the demands of the Boomers after stalwart Patty Mills's ominous World Cup warning.
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That's the opinion of two-time Olympian Mark Worthington, who can remember washing his own uniform and sleeping with his legs hanging off the bed during his time with the Boomers.
San Antonio Spurs star Mills, who Worthington regards as the "flagship guy" of Australian basketball, unloaded on BA on Tuesday.
He said their failure to address "basic needs" - believed to be related to accommodation, extra support staff, nutrition and tournament logistics - have led to "legitimate concerns" from NBA All-Star and Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons, who is yet to commit to the World Cup.
Australia are yet to win an international men's basketball medal but Mills is adamant gold at this year's World Cup in China and Tokyo 2020 - his fourth Olympics campaign - is within reach for what he described as Australia's best-ever team.
The United States preferred a private cruise ship to the crowded Olympic Village during the 2016 Rio Games but Worthington is sure the current Boomers aren't that precious.
And he respected Mills for "looking after the next crop" by biting his tongue until now.
"His voice carries a lot of weight and he's talking about professionalism," Worthington said of Mills.
"It's nothing to do with pay cheques.
"He just wants the best opportunity to win, not just any medal, but gold.
"I'm sure they've (BA) improved leaps and bounds from my experience but there's so much work to be done, there's room for improvement.
"If Patty's saying Ben will play if these things happen I'd be doing everything to accommodate."
BA insist they are working with Australia's overseas-based players to provide the high-performance environment required to excel over the next two years.
Worthington said if budget was the issue they needed to find a way to monetise a high-profile squad set to play two games in front of 100,000 fans against the US in Melbourne this August.
"They're the most marketable team in Australia right now, it's the golden generation and they're in their prime," he said.
"If we can't sell that to sponsors and brands ahead of what's to come in Australia this year and a big two years, then what are we doing here?"
Australian Associated Press
