Boomers stars take to social media to add fuel to the public disapproval of Olympic playing kits

Star Boomers including Josh Giddey and Jock Landale have added to the public outrage over the revealed Olympic playing kits for the Australian basketball teams.

Star Australian players and basketball fans have vented their strong disapproval of the new Boomers and Opals uniforms for the Paris Olympics, with gun guard Josh Giddey labelling the kits a “joke”.

Images emerged overnight of the replica Australian Asics singlets set to be worn by our men and women at this year’s Games.

The uniforms are primarily yellow with a touch of green around the neck lining, while Australia and the Southern Cross is on the front of the singlet. The design also features Indigenous artwork.

The Australian Boomers and Opals are set to roll out these Asics uniforms at the Paris Olympics👀🇦🇺🏀

Let us know what you think!#AussieHoops#Paris2024#Basketball#Asicspic.twitter.com/HskCQC6eMx

— The Pick and Roll 🇦🇺🏀 (@PickandRollAU) June 11, 2024

Basketball fans are universal in their dislike of the uniform, while leading players Giddey and Jock Landale also took to social media to express their dissatisfaction.

“Lol absolute joke,” Giddey said.

“Looks like we are off to throw a javelin,” Landale added.

It’s understood Basketball Australia signed off on the uniforms a year ago.

An AOC spokesperson told CODE Sports the basketball uniforms for the Paris Games will have a different material to the replica version, but the design will remain the same.

“The athlete comments relate to images of a replica range on sale to the general public, not the competition kit the players will wear in Paris.

“There is a significant difference between the high-performance product for athletes and an affordable replica range for members of the public.

“Most importantly the fit is different as the competition wear is a high performance garment and secondly, the competition wear is made from a different material.

“The design incorporates Indigenous elements common to competition wear across our Olympic sports and the high-performance version has been signed off by Basketball Australia.”

Boomers great Andrew Bogut weighed in via Instagram.

“AOC had Stevie Wonder do the uniforms,” Bogut said in reference to the famous blind musician.

Some Boomers past and present chime in on the Australian Olympic Team basketball uniform designs by @ASICSaustralia 😮#AussieHoops#EllezAUS#Paris2024pic.twitter.com/8OgvG2pd7l

— The Pick and Roll 🇦🇺🏀 (@PickandRollAU) June 12, 2024

Boomers five-time Olympian and leading scorer Andrew Gaze provided a different perspective on the replica singlets that are on sale to the public

“They’ll look better once the number is added,” Gaze said.

“The cut of the jersey looks a little tight for my liking but I like anything the players are comfortable with and happy.”

Gaze remembers the original ADIDAS singlets for the 1996 Atlanta Games had to be changed because there was a technical error.

“In the end we went back and used a local supplier and they re-did the singlet for the Olympics. The singlet they had produced was wrong.

“But beauty is in the eye of the beholder.”

Australia’s most prolific player manager Daniel Moldovan labelled the uniforms a “disgrace”.

“Let’s just call a spade a spade - yet another embarrassment for a team full of NBA players at the peak of their sport,” said Moldovan, who manages Boomers stars Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Xavier Cooks.

“Our guys are going to be dressed like marathon runners. If the old adage of “Look good feel good” has a modicum of truth to it, then our guys are going to be feeling like trash.

“We are an international laughing stock. Whoever green lit these marathon runner uniforms for the Boomers and should have their citizenship revoked.

“What the fuck is this abomination?.”

Moldovan isn’t alone, with countless basketball fans voicing their dislike of the Paris Olympic uniforms.

Let’s just call a spade a spade. This is a fucking DISGRACE. Yet another embarrassment for a team full of NBA players at the peak of their sport.

Our guys are going to be dressed like marathon runners.

If the old adage of “Look good feel good” has a modicum of truth to it,… https://t.co/mSxlLeHvGl

— Daniel Moldovan (@AgentMoldovan) June 11, 2024

Many dubbed the singlets “boring” and “tacky”, while others said the kit resembled a cheap training uniform you’d buy from a local Bali market.

One supporter is so angered by the singlets that he has launched a petition, urgently requesting the Boomers and Opals uniforms be reviewed ahead of next month’s Paris Olympics.

Even former South East Melbourne Phoenix big man Alan Williams had a dig at the Australian Olympic uniforms.

“Is April fools a different day?,” asked Williams.

“These can’t be real.”

Originally published as Boomers stars take to social media to add fuel to the public disapproval of Olympic playing kits