Josh Giddey and veteran Patty Mills headline eight NBA stars tasked Sunday with bettering the bronze medal Australia won at the Tokyo Olympics.
Miami Heats’ Mills and Minnesota Timberwolves‘ Joe Ingles will both play at their fifth Games in Paris, bringing huge experience to the 12-man squad.
They are joined by a host of young guns led by 21-year-old Chicago Bulls hotshot Giddey and Charlotte Hornets‘ Josh Green.
“To make my debut in Paris is a childhood dream and I can’t wait to get on the court in front of my family and friends who have all made this journey possible for me,” said Giddey, who was recently traded from Oklahoma City Thunder.
“To be part of the Boomers legacy, well it’s everything. We have a really great group, we know what we need to do and we are just ready to get into it.”
The group includes eight of the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallists, but Portland Trail Blazers‘ shooting guard Matisse Thybulle was a shock omission.
Selectors instead preferred Dyson Daniels (Atlanta Hawks), Matthew Dellavedova (Melbourne United), Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks) and Green to handle defensive wing assignments.
Australia lost to the dominant United States in the semi-finals in Tokyo three years ago, but overcame Slovenia in the third-place playoff, thanks to Mills’ 42 points.
The Boomers have been drawn in Group A in Paris where they will face Canada and two teams still in the midst of qualifying.
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