Josh Giddey leads Australia Boomers’ player pool for Paris Olympics

Oklahoma City Thunder pointguard Josh Giddey is headlining Australia’s 22-player pool for the2024 Paris Olympics, as announced by BasketballAustralia.

The 21-year-old young star, whoalso led the Boomers last year in the FIBA World Cup 2023, isjoined by fellow NBA players Patty Mills (Miami Heat), Joe Ingles(Orlando Magic), Matisse Thybulle and Duop Reath (PortlandTrailblazers), Josh Green and Dante Exum (Dallas Mavericks), JockLandale (Phoenix Suns), and Dyson Daniels (New OrleansPelicans).

Players with NBA experience arealso in the squad, including Xavier Cooks, Jack White, Nick Kay,and Matthew Dellavedova as well as Kansas Jayhawks freshman andsoon-to-be NBA draftee Johnny Furphy.

Rounding out the squad are eightcurrent NBL players Chris Goulding, DJ Vasiljevic, Jack McVeigh,Keanu Pinder, Matthew Dellavedova, Sam Froling, Will Magnay, andWill McDowell-White.

The 22-man roster was announcedand picked by Basketball Australia with their head coach BrianGoorjian at the helm. The Boomers aim to send a strong roster toParis in hopes of a podium finish

One notable absence from thepool is former no.1 overall pick Ben Simmons, who withdrew from thesquad yet again due to a nagging back injury that neededsurgery.

“We’ve been actively monitoringthe Aussie players across international leagues in USA, Europe, andAsia as well as domestically in the NBL and we’re confident in thepotential chemistry of this list,” Goorjian said.

Australia will be in Group Awith Canada, Greece OQT winner, and Spain OQT winner for the 2024Paris Olympics slated later this year.