Aussie Aussie Aussie: Down Under trio key in NBA Finals (AFP)

A trio of Australian-born players will play key roles in the NBA Finals, and at least one of them is going home with a title from their championship series debuts. Aussie big man Andrew Bogut helped the Golden State Warriors to the NBA's best record this season at 67-15 while the Cleveland Cavaliers have been the hottest team in the playoffs at 12-2 thanks in part to Aussie-born guard Kyrie Irving and his backup, hustling Aussie Matthew Dellavedova. Bogut, a 7-footer who was the top pick in the 2005 NBA Draft, says Aussies have the right mental fit to handle the variety of jobs needed in the NBA, from past long-range shooters as Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal to centers like Luc Longley, who played for three NBA championship Chicago Bulls teams.