The NBA’s superstars will be on court at Paris 2024 and Boomers coach Brian Goorjian is determined to pick a team with the toughness to battle for another Olympic medal.
But as he prepares for his last tournament with the national team, Goorjian is as excited to test Australia’s best against many of the NBA greatest players.
Australian basketballer Josh Giddey.Credit: AP
Goorjian is telling his Boomers to bring their gritty best to training camp and be prepared to fight for their spots on what will likely be the most talented roster the team has sent to an Olympics.
That determined mindset will be needed considering the 12-team field is topped by a LeBron James and Stephen Curry led Team USA roster that Goorjian thinks will rival the 1992 Dream Team and a field of international NBA superstars including Nikola Jokic (Serbia), Victor Wembanyama (France) and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Canada).
The Boomers announced their 22-man extended selection squad on Thursday headlined by Josh Giddey, Dante Exum, Josh Landale and Patty Mills.
“I think it is going to be real competitive and we have made a lot of changes [for the World Cup last year] so it wouldn’t be random but I’m willing to move if someone shows me they deserve a place,” Goorjian said.
The Boomers group includes Canada and two last-ditch qualifiers who will play for their spots in the lead up to the games.
But those teams could include perennial contenders Spain who host one qualifying tournament and either Luka Doncic’s Slovenia or Giannis Antetokounmpo’s Greece who were drawn into the same tournament in Greece.
The top two teams in the three groups will progress to the quarterfinals in Paris and two best third-placed teams will join them.
“It will be our hardest hill ever,” Goorjian said.
“If you look at the climb you’re going to have to go through – let’s say it’s Greece, Canada and Spain or Spain, Slovenia and Canada – all those teams will think they have a chance for the gold medal.
“I haven’t seen a pool like that before and this is going to be an Olympics like no other because the NBA is international now and after the season, all these guys are going to Paris to play in this.
“I’ve never been in an Olympics of this quality and, potentially, we will have the most talented team we’ve ever had.”
Giddey has endured a torrid NBA season after Newport Beach police probed allegations he had an inappropriate relationship with an underage girl, but that investigation ended without charge.
The 21-year-old has found his best form in recent weeks as his Oklahoma City Thunder push for the championship in the upcoming NBA playoffs.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.Credit: Getty Images
”When I went over there, he had a steeliness and a toughness as he was going through that,” Goorjian said.
“He’s playing his best basketball now. He’s focused and he’s really excited to play with his mates again in the green and gold – I can feel that from him when we speak.”
Giddey is often the fourth option at the Thunder but Goorjian will put the ball in his hands.
“He’s clamouring for it,” Goorjian said.
“But the other aspect is that at the World Cup, when he didn’t get the ball, he ran down the court and still got the ball back as he has learned to do that while at OKC.
“I think that will be a real strength. If you compare him to past Boomers, he is less Shane Heal or Ian Davies and more like Andrew Gaze in that Andrew handled the ball and ran the team but he was great without the ball – Giddey comes out of that [Melbourne Tigers] system and there are similarities between those two.”
Training camp is expected to be in Melbourne in late June or early July before the 12-man roster is selected and the team heads overseas for final preparations including a potential clash with Team USA.
Tasmania JackJumpers forward Jack McVeigh made headlines with his half-court three-pointer to win game three of the NBL grand final series while his teammate centre Will Magnay caught Goorjian’s eye with his physical play.
Matthew Dellavedova returns in great shape as he seeks an NBL title with Melbourne United and tries to resurrect his NBA and Olympics prospects.Credit: Getty Images
Goorjian sees them and a fired up Matthew Dellavedova, who was cut from the FIBA World Cup roster last year, as players who could add grit.
“I thought the body, how he moved, how he shot the ball and ran Melbourne United was a level above and he’s got to get another look,” Goorjian said.
“It’s the toughest spot in the team, that guard spot is where we are at an NBA level.
“His work is cut out for him but I’m looking forward to seeing him against these NBA guys.”
Goorjian wants multiple practice games against European sides considering they will need likely need to beat two European nations to get out of their group.
But the toughest fight will be behind closed doors at training camp.
“I don’t know where these guys sit until I get them under one roof and we start going at each other,” Goorjian said.
“You have to see what it is like when the lights are on.
“I feel like when we finish this camp, we are going to have a pretty damn good team.”
The Boomers’ extended squad for Paris 2024: Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Dante Exum, Sam Froling, Johnny Furphy, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Will Magnay, Will McDowell-White, Jack McVeigh, Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Dejan Vasiljevic, Jack White, Rocco Zikarsky.
