Ten players who helped Australia secure its bronze medal in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics once again figure in the Boomers' campaign for the 2024 Paris Summer Games. That pool includes Joe Ingles and Matthew Dellavedova.
Australia's Boomers are gearing up for another Olympic medal run, unveiling a 22-man preliminary squad for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Head coach Brian Goorjian is looking for a bounce-back performance after a disappointing 10th place finish at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
This time, the core of the bronze medal-winning Tokyo 2020 team remains intact, with veterans Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, Jock Landale, Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Duop Reath, and Nick Kay all returning for another shot at glory.
Oklahoma City Thunder young gun Josh Giddey, who won the Rising Star Award in the FIBA World Cup, joins the squad alongside Dyson Daniels, Jack White, and Xavier Cooks.
The squad also features a mix of experienced NBL campaigners like Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay, and Keanu Pinder, alongside exciting prospects like DJ Vasilijevic and Rocco Zikarsky.
Notably absent is Ben Simmons, who remains sidelined with a back injury.
Goorjian told FIBA he sees the 2023 FIBA World Cup as a stepping stone, "We were able to introduce new faces and identify areas for improvement."
The veteran coach--who made an impression with the Philippine audience as a former tactician for the Bay Area Dragons in the PBA--emphasized building the brand of "Aussie ball" that leverages the team's collective skillset and experience in various leagues worldwide.
The return of a healthy Jock Landale alongside Nick Kay and Xavier Cooks bolsters the squad's versatility. Additionally, the inclusion of sharpshooters like Dyson Daniels, Jack McVeigh, and DJ Vasilijevic is expected to strengthen the team's outside shooting.
Australia's 22-man pool
- Xavier Cooks
- Sam Froling
- Josh Green
- Keanu Pinder
- Jack McVeigh
- Jack White
- Dyson Daniels
- Johnny Furphy
- Joe Ingles
- Will Magnay
- Duop Reath
- Rocco Zikarsky
- Matthew Dellavedova
- Josh Giddey
- Nick Kay
- Patty Mills
- Matisse Thybulle
- Dante Exum
- Chris Goulding
- Jock Landale
- Will McDowell-White
- Dejan Vasilijevic
Australia is drawn in Group A, which includes World Cup bronze medalists Canada. The remaining two teams will be determined by qualifying tournaments.
"Our goal is to beat them," Goorjian declared. "We're going to play Aussie ball. And we're going to go at them with all we've got."