White Living Boomers, NBA Dream

Don’t tell Melbourne United star Jack White the offseason is for rest and recovery.

Instead, the 24-year-old is using it to chase his dreams.

White will make his Australian Boomers debut later this month in a FIBA World Cup Qualifying Window, before jetting off to America to compete in the NBA Summer League.

The turnaround is quick. The qualifiers end on July 3 and the Summer League starts on July 7, but White has worked out a plan with the Boomers and NBA team to attack both opportunities.

“I was honestly a bit stressed about it all. I wanted to have an opportunity to at least be involved with the national team stuff this offseason and I was fortunate with the NBA stuff it was locked away a bit earlier with the team I was playing with,” White told ESPN.

“I was planning on heading to the States this week and working out in preparation so I'm not hopping off a plane with jet lag and trying to play. But during the process of working it all out, I got a call from Jason Smith who runs the logistics with the Boomers, and I was super thrilled with the call.

“It's tough timing with the last game on July 3 and Summer League starting on July 7; it will be a fair bit to work out, but I've had a great deal of support from Basketball Australia and the team I'll be playing for.

“The NBA team knew it was a big goal of mine to play with the national team and they were very supportive of that once they found out.

“I've been super fortunate with some of the opportunities that have come up, my first senior national team experience, that's something I'm super excited for and then being able to go over to the US and have a crack at Summer League and try and put my foot in the door is something I've dreamed of as a young kid.”

Before he fulfils those dreams, White is currently playing for the Geelong Supercats in NBL1 South.

He is averaging 20.7 points and 11.7 rebounds for the Supercats and is enjoying the chance to work on his game before the NBL season begins.

“The offseason has been eventful so far; it doesn't feel like much of an offseason which is good for me. The more basketball the better,” White said.

White signed a contract extension with Melbourne last month, keeping him with United through the end of the 2024/25 season.