Rookie and the vet: Can new-look champs repeat Boom time?

Over the heavy pitter patter, returning import guard Tiff Mitchell laments: “this rain is killing me, where is the sun?”

Mitchell and her new mate Olivia Nelson-Ododa bring plenty of light to the Melbourne Sports Centres court on a dreary day as they bounce back and forth about life and basketball — with the common goal of delivering consecutive titles to the new-look Boomers.

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Grand final MVP Lindsay Allen and Opals big Ezi Magbegor are off to Europe and coach Guy Molloy has been succeeded by Chris Lucas — or “Guy Jr”, for his similarities to the Boomers’ long-time mentor, if you ask Mitchell.

It’s a “new relationship” between the two Americans but the vet has taken the rook under her wing.

“I knew of Tiff, but we’ve never actually spoke before. As a teammate, as a person, she’s great to play with and a great person to be with off the court,” Nelson-Ododa says.

Mitchell, 28 and a seven-year WNBA veteran, gives an appreciative “Nawwww” at the compliments from the 22-year-old, who has just finished her rookie year with the LA Sparks.

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“Her first time being overseas … I know it’s a huge adjustment — being away from your family and this league is really competitive,” Mitchell said.

“As imports, it’s tough to maintain a sense of balance. I just don’t want her to get too overwhelmed with things, people throwing stuff at her, people expecting her to be Ezi.”

Nelson-Ododa is 196cm so the comparisons to star centre Magbegor are bound to come.

Mitchell wants everyone to temper that.

“She is her own player,” Mitchell said.

“The ‘walk in Ezi’s shoes’ thing should not be a thing this season, she should walk in her own shoes.

“They’re two different types of players and we need Olivia to be Olivia for us this season.”

That Olivia is a defensive dynamo who sent away more than 250 shots in her college career at Connecticut and has clearly had an impact in practice — the Boomers’ ‘B-team’ rarely ventured inside the paint, mostly settling for jump shots, for fear of the long-limbed Michigan native sending it back with interest.

The Boomers are still blessed with three Opals — new mum Cayla George, feisty guard Kristy Wallace and injured floor general Tess Madgen — and, with Mitchell and Nelson-Ododa, there are still high expectations.

OPPORTUNITY COMES IN LOSING LIZ

Nelson-Ododa was witness to part of the Liz Cambage saga when the former Opal walked out on the Sparks, mid-season.

Cambage was involved in physical and verbal altercations in a pre-Olympic scrimmage and ultimately left the Opals before their Tokyo campaign, before later quitting the Sparks.

Nelson-Ododa said it was a difficult time for the team but it presented her with opportunity — she started the last six games of the season in LA.

“When we have a teammate leave like that, it does impact the team in a way,” she said.

“We were teammates, we practised together, we played together.

“We just tried to remain focused on the games we had left … and just tried to finish off as best we could.

“I was put in a position to showcase what I can do and really tried to take advantage of that opportunity and do the best I could.”

She’s one of the few women who can dunk a basketball and says she’ll show that off in the WNBL if she gets the chance.

MITCHELL’S OBSESSION

The first thing you notice about Mitchell is the muscles. Her body is a well-honed basketball machine and her fitness and strength makes her a relentless player at both ends of the court, helping her finish in traffic against bigger players.

It’s a meticulous attention to detail — and nothing gets in the way. “Have I got time to finish these last two spots?,” she calls out from the court as we sit and wait for her to join us and begin the interview.

Of course, it’s fine — but it would not have mattered what we said. Basketball comes first for Mitchell.

“I’ve just always gravitated towards being the most fit on the court,” Mitchell, who is studying to be a personal trainer, said.

“Players probably could shoot better, jump higher, but I’ve always prided myself on being the most in shape and not being outworked.

“Even off the court, when it comes to little things as far as the way you sleep the way you eat the way you live, all that plays a part in your performance and that’s something I learnt at an early age and just stuck with it — maybe to a fault, sometimes.”

Mitchell kicked off the season with a 32-point, 9-assist, 4-steal tour de force in a win over Perth, although the Boomers fell to 1-1 with a Wednesday loss to Lauren Jackson’s Southside Flyers.

SOCIAL CONSCIENCE

Both women take their personal platforms seriously.

Nelson-Ododa has more than 93,000 followers on Instagram and has used her position to highlight the plight of basketball star Brittany Griner, who has been imprisoned in Russia.

“It’s devastating,” Nelson-Ododa said.

“There’s not a day that goes by, especially in the basketball community, people don’t think about it.

“We are supporting her and we’re praying for her to be released.”

Mitchell has her own non-profit organisation SPIN Haven Foundation — Single Parents In Need.

“I am a product of a single parent and my mum raised myself and my brother by herself,” she said.

“I’m really passionate about finding ways to give back to parents and households that weren’t as fortunate as I was with my mum.”

***Melbourne Boomers will unfurl their championship banner at their first home game on Sunday, November 13, 3pm, v Adelaide Lightning @ Melbourne Sports Centres, Parkville.

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