Patty Mills among 10 NBA players in Australia’s extended squad

MELBOURNE,Australia (AP) — Veteran Brooklyn Nets point guard Patty Mills andrising Oklahoma City star Josh Giddey are among the 10 NBA playersselected in Australia’s extended squad of 18 to prepare for thebasketball World Cup.

Mills’teammate Ben Simmons is still recovering from injury and wasn’tpicked for the squad’s upcoming training camp, but coach BrianGoorjian hasn’t ruled him out of calculations for the globaltournament.

MatisseThybulle, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Josh Green, MatthewDellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Jack White and Dyson Daniels are theother NBA players picked for the extended roster, which will be cutto 12 before Australia’s opening game against co-host Japan on Aug.25.

“It’s been athorough process. The coaches and I have had many discussions aboutgetting the mix right but I’m really pleased with where we’velanded with the guys we’ve selected, there’s a good balance acrossthe court,” Goorjian said in a statement Monday. “The fact it’sbeen so tough goes to show the depth of talent we have inAustralian basketball right now.”

Australia wonthe bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics and will again be among themedal contenders in the FIBA World Cup, which is being co-hosted byPhilippines, Japan and Indonesia.

The Boomershave been drawn into Pool E with Japan, Germany and Finland andwill play their group-stage games in Okinawa.

Giddey, whowas among the last players cut from the Olympic roster for Tokyo,will get his first chance to play for Australia at a majorinternational meet.

“I’ve alwaysdreamed of playing for the Boomers and representing Australia, soto get this opportunity is really special,” Giddey said. “There’s alot of talent in this squad and I think we’ve got a good chance ofmatching it with every team -- I’m excited for the challenge.”

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Australiasquad: Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, DanteExum, Sam Froling, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, JoeIngles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Thon Maker, Will McDowell-White,Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, JackWhite.