NBA star Josh Giddey discusses Australia’s chances of a basketball medal in Paris,and says cohesion could bring the formidable USA team undone.
Patty Mills scored a game-high 24 points and brushed off criticism from Andrew Bogut as the Boomers scored an Olympics warm-up win over a French team featuring Victor Wembanyama.
The powerful US team began with the quintet of Steph Curry,Joel Embiid,Jayson Tatum,LeBron James and Anthony Edwards,but Australia were still within four points with just minutes to play.
She might be an all-time great,but Lauren Jackson has never felt so much pressure as she did before Australia’s Olympic basketball teams for Paris were announced. Like Patty Mills and Joe Ingles,she’s off to her fifth Games.
Australia will head to Paris with dreams of stunning the USA and winning gold. But with world basketball growing ever-stronger,the Opals and Boomers will be tested like never before.
Stalwart Joe Ingles is set to retain his place for Paris 2024 and play in a fifth Olympics while NBA defensive ace Matisse Thybulle has been left off the final roster.
Thursday nights match against China in Melbourne is the final opportunity for Boomers players to impress coach Brian Goorjian before the team jets to Paris 2024.
Only two people were allowed near eight-time NBA All-Star Yao Ming when Australia’s men’s basketball team overcame a sluggish start to defeat China in one of their final hitouts before heading to Paris.
Veterans Patty Mills and Joe Ingles are pushing hard to make the final Olympics squad,but it’s the next generation of stars who will determine how far the team can go in Paris.
Josh Giddey is looking forward to again taking the court for the Australian Boomers but he admits he is ready to get out of the spotlight after a torrid NBA season.
The NBA dream of Melbourne-born Johnny Furphy has been realised,but only after another shock move during the second round of the NBA draft on Friday morning.