Aussies Abroad: Olbrich determined to extend NBA stay

With one NBA season under his belt, Hungry Jack’s NBL25 champion Lachlan Olbrich is determined to extend his time in the United States.

The former Illawarra Hawks big man, who spent last season with the Chicago Bulls, recently lined up for the Golden State Warriors’ Summer League side, producing several strong performances.

Olbrich's standout showing came against Miami, where he hit all seven of his shots on his way to 21 points, six rebounds and one assist in just 22 minutes of action.

Following his eight appearances for the Warriors, the 22-year-old explained how much he enjoyed playing in their free-flowing offence.

“They really value skilled bigs, and they implement them in their offences, so I get touches in the action and make reads, which is one of my strong suits,” Olbrich said to The Mercury News.

“Being the ultimate glue guy, connector guy, kind of what Draymond Green does with Golden State. I’m just trying to be better in those areas; being able to defend all five positions is what I’m trying to get to, and just getting the ball from side to side.”

The South Australian talent has now shifted his focus to securing a deal with the Warriors and potentially their G League affiliate, the Santa Cruz Warriors, to continue his development with the organisation.

“I want to show that I belong, and [I’m] trying to get that second contract and stay in the League as long as I can because I feel like I belong, and I’m just trying to prove that to everyone else,” Olbrich said.

One person who has Olbrich’s back is Golden State’s Summer League head coach, Khalid Robinson, who was impressed by the big man’s strong play.

“He gives us playmaking at the five, he’s a tougher rebounder, and he’s like a quarterback behind the play with his communication with other defenders,” Robinson said.

Olbrich made 37 appearances for the Bulls in his rookie season, including posting a triple-double with 10 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists against the Dallas Mavericks on April 12. In doing so, he joined Michael Jordan, Jay Williams and Kirk Hinrich as the only first-year Chicago players to achieve the feat.

Read the full story here >> Playmaking Australian Lachlan Olbrich out to prove to Warriors he ‘belongs’ in NBA