Coach Andrej Lemanis insists the decision to leave Patty Mills out of Australia's Olympic qualifying series is in the team's best interest.
The San Antonio Spurs guard was unavailable for upcoming warm-up matches in Europe against Slovenia and Lithuania as he works to regain full strength on a previously injured shoulder.
As a result, Lemanis omitted him from the 12-man squad for next month's Oceania Championships against New Zealand. The winner will earn a spot in the 2016 Rio Games.
While Mills will be missing, four of Australia's other NBA stars - Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellevadova, Dante Exum and Cameron Bairstow - have been included in a star-studded outfit.
Lemanis said it was important the group spend time together and develop a style of play before the matches in Melbourne and Wellington on August 15 and 18.
"Lots of consideration was given to this situation, and at the end of the day you've got to make a decision in what you believe to be in the best interest of the team," said Lemanis.
"We thought it was important that the group is able to (prepare for the Tall Blacks) as part of our European tour.
"Patty's obviously someone who's passionate for playing for Australia and would've loved to have been playing the games.
"So he's a little bit disappointed, but I think more so respectful of the need for us to develop as a team and spend time together in Europe, building our culture and style of play."
Mills is one of three current NBA players not in the squad, alongside former Spurs teammate Aron Baynes and Joe Ingles.
Baynes, who on Monday signed a lucrative three-year deal with the Detroit Pistons, will miss the campaign following recent ankle surgery, while Ingles has decided to rest after a tough rookie NBA season with Utah Jazz.
Baynes said he was very disappointed to be missing out.
"My priority is ensuring that I am 100 per cent healthy for the Olympics next year, so I made the tough decision to get my ankle cleaned out this off season," he said.
Lemanis is excited to coach Bogut, who hasn't played for the Boomers since the 2008 Beijing Olympics on the back of a series of injuries.
The 30-year-old joins the side fresh from winning the NBA championship with the Golden State Warriors.
"He's really excited about getting back into the program and being healthy," he said.
Lemanis is confident Exum will be ok to play despite hurting his ankle in the NBA Summer League for the Jazz.
"We're still three weeks away from the games but I think it will be ok," the coach said.
Boomers: David Andersen, Cameron Bairstow, Andrew Bogut, Ryan Broekhoff, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Adam Gibson, Chris Goulding, Nate Jawai, Damian Martin, Brock Motum and Brad Newley.
