‘Whole new level’: Team USA superstar Devin Booker’s big wrap for Josh Giddey and Boomers ahead of quarter-final against Serbia
Josh Giddey’s stat-sheet stuffing Paris Olympic form has caught the eye of NBA sensation Devin Booker ahead of the Boomers’ do-or-die clash against Serbia.
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Josh Giddey’s stat-sheet stuffing Paris Olympic form has caught the eye of Team USA superstar Devin Booker, who says the “competitive” Chicago Bull has taken his game to a “whole new level” donning the green and gold.
Booker’s face lit up when he was asked about Giddey’s performances during the group stage matches in Lille.
The Phoenix Suns playmaker and four-time NBA All-Star has been particularly impressed with the Melbourne born guard’s improved shooting at the Games.
Giddey has shot 6/14 from three point range (42.8%) across three matches – a marked improvement on the 33.7% he shot for the OKC Thunder before being benched and traded.
The three Olympic matches are obviously a smaller sample size compared to an 82-game NBA regular season, but the Boomers guard has shown a willingness to shot from range.
The 21-year-old has also been a triple double threat in each game and is clearly Australia’s key playmaker.
Giddey’s improved shooting stroke certainly hasn’t gone unnoticed by Booker, despite his own busy Team USA playing commitments.
“Hell yeah, he (Josh) has been playing super well,” Booker told this masthead.
“I mean, he plays well in the NBA as well, but when you’re representing your country it’s a whole new level.
“He is a competitor at the highest level and he has been shooting it well during the tournament.”
The Boomers face a date against the ‘Joker’ Nikola Jokic and Serbia in a do-or-die quarter-final in Paris on Tuesday.
It won’t be easy to topple Jokic – who some rate as the best player in the world – but Booker gives the Aussies a chance.
The Phoenix Suns guard has vivid memories of the Boomers pushing a star-studded Team USA side in the semi-final at the 2021 Tokyo Games.
“They (the Boomers) had us down by 15 points, so I always think back to that game and we had to go through a lot of adversity to get through them,” he said.
“I think it would be a great matchup (against Serbia).
“All these matches are going to be great. Everyone is playing for their country and for a lot of pride.
“It’s single game elimination, so anything can happen.”
Boomers big man Jock Landale still believes the Aussies have what it takes to challenge any team on the world stage.
Landale was bitterly disappointed with the sluggish first half in the loss to Greece, but he took significant heart from the side’s second half fight back to get within two points after trailing by 19.
“Because it just shows that we can beat anyone,” Landale said.
“We’ve just got to start like that second half (against Greece) and try and do it for 40 minutes.
“But when we put it together a little too late like that, it’s when we start falling into these patches and losing games like we have to Canada and Greece.
“But we can beat anyone and I fully believe that and the boys do as well, but we’ve just got to go out and do it.”
It will be interesting to see if Boomers veteran swingman Joe Ingles receives minutes against Serbia on Tuesday.
Ingles, playing in his fifth Olympics, hasn’t played in the past two losses against Canada and Greece.
Landale didn’t want to enter the selection room debate, but insists the NBA vet would be ready if he was called upon.
“That’s not up to me (if Ingles plays or not),” he said.
“I think everyone on this team is capable of playing minutes and everyone is valued to this team.
“Joe is still a great player and he is ready to go when his number is called.”
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Originally published as ‘Whole new level’: Team USA superstar Devin Booker’s big wrap for Josh Giddey and Boomers ahead of quarter-final against Serbia
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