The FIBA World Cup is almost here, with Australia’s Boomers set to begin their campaign on Friday against Finland in their opening group stage clash.
Josh Green telling SEN Radio earlier in the year that the Boomers are ready to take the next step towards becoming a basketball “powerhouse”.
The Boomers enter the tournament with a 4-1 record in warm-up exhibition matches, but have battled a raft of injuries that rocked coach Brian Goorjian’s squad.
The strong warm-up schedule was set to offer Goorjian the opportunity to settle on who would be the final player to miss out on a spot in the 12-man squad, before that decision was taken out of his hands.
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Boomers beaten by Brazil in warm up game | 01:26
Starting big man Jock Landale suffered an ankle injury in the third warm-up game, against South Sudan, that ruled the new Houston Rockets recruit out of the entire World Cup.
Landale had already been sidelined for the first two warm-up games with a right ankle issue before landing awkwardly on his left foot while defending the rim.
Coach Goorjian revealed to reporters after the win over South Sudan that Jack White was set to miss out on selection before Landale’s injury.
Now though, having already experimented with small line-ups last week, Goorjian will have to embrace that playing style out of necessity.
Fortunately this Boomers squad has the kind of positional versatility needed to make it work.
For Goorjian, Landale’s injury was justification for delaying a call on the final cut to the squad, telling media White will be a “very helpful piece” at the World Cup.
“That is a big hit but I’m taking the high road on this,” Goorjian said.
“I got criticised quite strongly about having 13 guys and not making that selection … Jack White has been right on the cusp of this thing and is huge for us and is a quality piece there and I’m not comfortable with some of these guys that have not played at all.
“Thank goodness he’s here. He’s played in all of this and we went down the road we went and he’s a very helpful piece. He’s multipurpose and if we’re going to play that small-ball switch, he’s another really important piece.”
Keep scrolling for a recap of all Boomers warm-up games and a full World Cup schedule!
Australia won two of its three warm-up games in Melbourne, going down 90-86 against a bigger Brazilian team in a glimpse of some of the challenges to come in the World Cup.
Josh Green though did not take part in that game though, eventually getting a start on Thursday against South Sudan after nursing an elbow injury earlier in the week.
Goorjian got exactly what he was after from the Dallas Mavericks wing, bringing his trademark hustle and energy to both ends of the floor — something that was missing against Brazil.
Goorjian described Green as like “Delly on steroids”, referring of course to veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova, who was one of the first names cut from the initial World Cup squad.
“Josh Green and then Matisse, Jack White — there’s an avenue there to go down and we’re going to have to be really good at certain things to get to where we want to go without Jock,” added Goorjian.
“But it’s doable and I saw flashes of it tonight.”
He did however suffer another injury against France in Tokyo – this time to his ankle – and was forced to miss the final warm-up win over Georgia, but is believed to be ready to play when the World Cup begins.
While Landale’s omission is a big blow, it presents an opportunity for Duop Reath to build on an impressive run in Australia’s warm-up games.
Reath has formed a lethal combination playing off Josh Giddey and will be leaned on heavily to provide some much-needed size and offensive versatility in the frontcourt.
Xavier Cooks and Nick Kay will also offer options for Goorjian at the five, although how he rotates minutes remains to be seen.
While Chris Goulding (knee) also sat out Thursday’s game against South Sudan, the Melbourne United star returned against Georgia and is ready to go when the tournament begins.
Read on for a full ultimate guide of everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup!
EVERY WARM-UP GAME RECAP
The Boomers have had five warm-up games before then to finetune things.
Australia won its first warm-up game 97-41 against Venezuela at Rod Laver Arena last Monday night.
Last Wednesday’s exhibition game against Brazil, which the Boomers lost in an upset, was pushed forward to a 5.30pm tip-off so Australian basketball fans were able to tune into the game before switching over to watch the Matildas, who went down 3-1 in the FIFA World Cup semi-final against England.
The final warm-up game in Melbourne tipped off at 7.45pm (AEST) on Thursday night, with the Boomers toppling South Sudan 86-67 but copping a big injury setback in the process.
Then the Boomers overcame medal fancies France on Sunday 78-74, before finalising their preparations with a 86-81 win over Georgia in Okinawa, Japan. The game was held behind closed doors and not televised, but there was good news for the Boomers with Chris Goulding returning from a knee injury suffered against Venezuela to drain 13 points. Australia led by 19 at the half before implementing a heavy rotation strategy to get every player into form before the tournament began.
Dallas Maverick Josh Green sat out after an ankle injury in Sunday’s win over France, but is believed to be fit to play against Finland.
FULL SCHEDULE (Times AEST)
Australia def. Venezuela 97-41 — Game recap
Australia def. by Brazil 86-90 — Game recap
Australia def. South Sudan 88-67 — Game recap
Australia def. France 78-74 — Game recap
Australia def. Georgia 86-81
HOW TO WATCH EVERY BOOMERS FIBA WORLD CUP GAME
As for the World Cup action itself, the Boomers are part of Group E and will play Finland in their first official game to kick off the tournament.
That game is scheduled for 6pm AEST on Friday, August 25. Australia is also scheduled to face Germany (6.30pm, August 27) and Japan (9.10pm, August 29) to round out the group stage.
You can watch EVERY Boomers game live with ESPN on Kayo.
FULL SCHEDULE (AEST)
Australia vs Finland (Friday, August 25 @ 6pm)
Australia vs Germany (Sunday, August 27 @ 6.30pm)
Australia vs Japan (Tuesday, August 29 @ 9.10pm)
BOOMERS’ OFFICIAL 12-MAN SQUAD
Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Patty Mills, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White
PLAYERS CUT
Jock Landale (injured), Matthew Dellavedova, Will McDowell-White, Thon Maker, Keanu Pinder, Sam Froling
FIBA WORLD CUP GROUPS
Group A: Angola, Dominican Republic, Philippines, Italy
Group B: South Sudan, Serbia, China, Puerto Rico
Group C: USA, Jordan, Greece, New Zealand
Group D: Egypt, Mexico, Montenegro, Lithuania
Group E: Germany, Finland, Australia, Japan
Group F: Slovenia, Cape Verde, Georgia, Venezuela
Group G: Iran, Spain, Cote d’Ivoire, Brazil
Group H: Canada, Latvia, Lebanon, France
FIBA WORLD CUP WINNER ODDS (via TAB.com.au)
USA — $2.10
Canada — $6.00
Australia — $9.00
Slovenia — $11.00
France — $12.00
NBA PLAYERS IN FIBA WORLD CUP (via NBA.com)
Ben Simmons may not be suiting up for the Boomers but this is already a stacked roster at Brian Goorjian’s disposal, with nine NBA players in Australia’s 12-man squad.
Australia is not the only nation that will be bolstered by NBA talent at this year’s FIBA World Cup, with the United States obviously the most well-represented of the bunch.
Austin Reaves and Mikal Bridges, two of the NBA’s most exciting breakout players last season, are part of a 12-man squad that features stars from teams all across the league.
Meanwhile, NBA championship-winning guard Jamal Murray and Giddey’s Oklahoma City teammate Shai Gilgeous-Alexander lead a Canada team that will pose a serious challenge.
Luka Doncic, meanwhile, provided plenty of starpower for Slovenia although Greece is without one of its biggest draw cards after Giannis Antetokounmpo pulled out.
Antetokounmpo underwent knee surgery at the start of July and has not participated in Greece’s preparations for the tournament.
“Since the conclusion of my NBA season I have been pushing my body to the limits to be the player I need to be to help our team achieve the goals we set,” Antetokounmpo wrote on social media last week.
“After months of work and multiple meetings with medical staff it is clear that I am not ready to compete in the level that I need to be to participate in the World Cup.
“This was not a choice but my only option in ensuring I get back to the level of basketball I have worked so hard to achieve so far in my career.
“I am extremely disappointed in this outcome.”
GROUP A
Angola: Roster not announced.
Dominican Republic: Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves), Lester Quinones (Golden State Warriors)
Italy: Simone Fontecchio (Utah Jazz)
Philippines: Jordan Clarkson (Utah Jazz)
GROUP B
China: Kyle Anderson (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Serbia: Bogdan Bogdanovic (Atlanta Hawks), Aleksej Pokusevski (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nikola Jovic (Miami Heat), Filip Petrusev (Philadelphia 76ers)
South Sudan: Roster not announced.
Puerto Rico: No NBA players on roster.
GROUP C
Greece: Thanasis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
Jordan: Roster not announced.
New Zealand: No NBA players on roster.
United States: Paolo Banchero (Orlando Magic), Mikal Bridges (Brooklyn Nets), Jalen Brunson (New York Knicks), Anthony Edwards (Minnesota Timberwolves), Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers), Josh Hart (New York Knicks), Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans), Jaren Jackson Jr. (Memphis Grizzlies), Cameron Johnson (Brooklyn Nets), Walker Kessler (Utah Jazz), Bobby Portis (Milwaukee Bucks), Austin Reaves (Los Angeles Lakers)
GROUP D
Egypt: No NBA players on roster.
Lithuania: Jonas Valanciunas (New Orleans Pelicans), Azuolas Tubelis (Philadelphia 76ers)
Mexico: No NBA players on roster.
Montenegro: Nikola Vucevic (Chicago Bulls)
GROUP E
Australia: Xavier Cooks (Washington Wizards), Dyson Daniels (New Orleans Pelicans), Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks), Josh Giddey (Oklahoma City Thunder), Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks), Joe Ingles (Orlando Magic), Patty Mills (Atlanta Hawks), Matisse Thybulle (Portland Trail Blazers), Jack White (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Finland: Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)
Germany: Dennis Schroder (Toronto Raptors), Daniel Theis (Indiana Pacers), Franz Wagner (Orlando Magic), Moritz Wagner (Orlando Magic)
Japan: Yuta Watanabe (Phoenix Suns)
GROUP F
Cape Verde: No NBA players on roster.
Georgia: Goga Bitadze (Orlando Magic), Sandro Mamukelashvili (San Antonio Spurs)
Slovenia: Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
Venezuela: No NBA players on roster.
GROUP G
Brazil: Raul Neto (Cleveland Cavaliers)
Cote d’Ivoire: No NBA players on roster.
Iran: No NBA players on roster.
Spain: Santi Aldama (Memphis Grizzlies), Usman Garuba (Atlanta Hawks)
GROUP H
Canada: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), RJ Barrett (New York Knicks), Dillon Brooks (Houston Rockets), Lu Dort (Oklahoma City Thunder), Nickeil Alexander-Walker (Minnesota Timberwolves), Kelly Olynyk (Utah Jazz), Dwight Powell (Dallas Mavericks)
France: Frank Ntilikina (Free agent), Nicolas Batum (LA Clippers), Evan Fournier (New York Knicks), Rudy Gobert (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Latvia: Kristaps Porzingis (Boston Celtics), Davis Bertans (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Lebanon: No NBA players on roster.
