31
Jul
Young Guns
Boom-time: Dash joins elite 17-year-old company
Tom Abercrombie of New Zealand (L) and Ben Simmons of Australia in action during the Men's FIBA Oceania Championship match between the New Zealand Tall Blacks and the Australian Boomers at North Shore Events Centre on August 14, 2013 in Auckland, New Zealand. Photo: Sandra Mu/Getty Images
Five Australian men's basketballers have played for the Boomers as 17-year-olds
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Dash Daniels is the fifth Australian men's basketballer to play for the Boomers internationally at just 17 years of age but the Victorian guard isn't the youngest.
That honour belongs to fellow Victorian Ben Simmons who at just 17 and 25 days played for the Boomers in the FIBA Oceania Championship against New Zealand on August 14, 2013.
Daniels has been named in the 12-man Boomers team for the 2025 FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia after being named in the squad against New Zealand in the Trans-Tasman Throwdown in May and a strong, not stellar, contribution for the Emus at the Under-19 FIBA Men's World Cup in Switzerland in early July, 2025.
There have been five Australians to play for the Boomers internationally aged 17.
Youngest Australian Boomers in History
- Ben Simmons: 17 years, 25 days
- Josh Giddey: 17 years, 136 days
- Rocco Zikarsky: 17 years, 226 days
- Dash Daniels: 17 years, 225 days
- Mark Bradtke: 17 years, 323 days
Australian centre Mark Bradtke was the youngest player for more than a quarter of a century after playing his first game for the Boomers in a six-game series against the USSR in 1987. He was 17 and 323 days.
NBA star Josh Giddey made his debut against Hong Kong in an Asia Cup qualifier in 2020 at 17 and 136 days.
2025 NBA draftee Rocco Zikarsky made his Boomers debut at 17 years and 226 days in the Asia Cup qualifiers on February 22, 2024.
Daniels is the younger brother of the NBA's Most Improved Player Dyson. He signed with Melbourne United as an NBL Next Star as a 16-year-old in December, 2024.
"I feel great. Signing my first pro contract, it’s a dream come true, and I can’t wait to get started," Daniels said at the time.
"I’ve grown up in the Australian programs, so I know the style of play and the brand of basketball. Melbourne United, I play very similar to them, they take pride in their defence, and they love to get up and down the court, which is what I like to do.”
Daniels rise has been swift and at 6'5" is developing into an elite wing, which United head coach Dean Vickerman said needed to be nurtured.
"He absolutely belongs on an NBL floor right now,” Vickerman said.
"He can go out there and defend and go by people, he’s going to be a good impact player in the NBL. Hopefully he’s a great impact player in the NBL.
"We’ll take our time and go slowly with it, teach him our system but really quality basketball of play that we’ve seen so far."
In the meantime, only time will tell how Australian Boomers head coach Adam Caporn will use the 17-year-old in the rotation.
How to watch the Boomers vs University of Colorado
The Gold Coast battle will go live on via ESPN / Kayo in Australia at 6:30 AEST on Thursday, July 31, 2025.
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