Basketball On The Internet.

IT’S nothing more than an opinion, but I believe the Boomers erred in not suiting Patty Mills for next month’s Oceania Series against New Zealand.

There has been considerable discussion already about his omission due to the additional shoulder rehabilitation work he is doing, after surgery last year impacted his NBA campaign with San Antonio and also forced him out of Australia’s World Cup team.

Mills was available to play for the Boomers in Melbourne on August 15 and Wellington on August 18.

Just as coach Brendan Joyce is shoring up the “Opals culture” with the women’s team, Andrej Lemanis has been tasked with the same job with the Boomers.

Wisely, he has long consulted his main players on what the culture should mean and fully committing to a program – be it an Oceania or a World Cup – was a key element.

Availability for the Boomers’ European tour matches against Lithuania and Slovenia were part of the program ahead of facing the Tall Blacks for direct entry into the Rio Olympics.

I think we all understand Mills bought in to that culture as much as anyone and we can also understand that making exceptions weakens the culture’s very foundation.

The team being together for weeks to genuinely become a singleminded, well-oiled, fully-functioning unit comfortable with roles and rotations, is something for which it is worth striving.

So, on behalf of anyone and everyone who can think this through and see the cultural benefits, let me applaud that desire and intent.

But we’re talking about Patty Mills here, perhaps the one guy – maybe the ONLY guy – for whom we SHOULD make the exception.

Few sportsmen, if any, have captured the public’s imagination and admiration as much at Patty Mills.

MILLS A BOON: Patty Mills and Mark Worthington in Opals bodysuits at the Beijing Olympics ... Aussie spirit and lovable larrikinism personified.

This is young man proud of his indigenous background, proud of his country and the personification of a true blue Aussie.

At the London Olympics, he maintained an Australian tradition in the footsteps of Eddie Palubinskas, Ian Davies and Andrew Gaze by leading all scorers.

Last year he held the Australian public spellbound and breathless with his third quarter carve up of the Miami Heat to help clinch the NBA Championship for San Antonio.

Then he and Aron Baynes brought the NBA Trophy home to show off around the country.

Ask any sportslover in this country who Patty Mills is and you’ll see how important he is on our basketball landscape.

Now bear in mind Patty isn’t missing the Euro build-up because he is playing golf but because he needs further work to ensure his shoulder is 100 per cent again.

So he is injured. But he would be right for the Boomers’ game at Rod Laver Arena, and that week’s preparation.

Now if say, Kevin Durant or LeBron James had to miss a prep for the USA ahead of the Pan-Pacs, would they still be selected if available?

It’s interesting, isn’t it?

Does Andrej Lemanis have a rule for some but not for others?

Clearly not.

But then again, it’s not as if Mills is taking a break. It’s not as if he hasn’t been one of the most dedicated and high-profile players we have produced in the past decade.

And it’s not as if he’s a newcomer into this group. We all know he’s played with Bogut, Dellavedova, Newley, Jawai etcetera and been part of the fabric which comprises this new culture.

So yes, I would have made the exception.

Maybe selectors could have chosen 11 players for the Euro tour and kept Patty’s spot open, then brought him off the bench at Oceania to minimise any potential disruption.

Maybe they could have taken 12 but told one player he would make way for Mills in Melbourne and Wellington.

What if a player was injured on tour? Would Mills then be reinstated?

Again, he is a drawcard and a superstar of Australian basketball. Compromising the culture for him would have been worth it for the Australian public.

We can understand exactly why Lemanis and his selection team felt they could not select Mills this time. But maybe they misjudged how important he is to the sport’s profile, if not the team.