Aussie NBA gun Josh Giddey will play for Australia at the World Cup
Australia will take a line-up stacked with NBA talent to this year’s World Cup including arguable the best Aussie in the league.
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The Australian Boomers hopes of securing a first-ever FIBA World Cup have been boosted with NBA star Josh Giddey confirming his commitment to play for the national team.
Fresh off a stunning performance in his first-ever post-season match last week, when he scored an equal career-high 31 points for the Oklahoma City Thunder, Giddey said he would not miss the opportunity to represent his country.
The Thunder had their season ended by the Minnesota Timberwolves last Friday. Giddey’s star continued to rise in his second year, averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 points, 6.2 assists for his team
As he heads in to the off-season, Giddey said playing for Australia remained a priority and he would line-up for the Boomers in the World Cup to be played in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines in August and September.
“I will be there,” Giddey said on Monday morning.
“It’s very important, as a young kid being an Australian, you grow up as a basketballer wanting to be a part of the green and gold.
“Whether that’s at a World Cup or an Olympic games, I was no different.
“I remember when the Olympics were going on in London, I think I was 12 years old, I would take days off school to sit there and watch those games.”
Giddey will play alongside fellow NBA players Patty Mills, Jock Landale, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, Matisse Thybulle and potentially even Ben Simmons for the Boomers.
The 20-year-old said that line-up should raise expectations of winning the whole thing.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Boomers,” Giddey told SEN.
“I’ve had a couple of brief stints playing for Australia with the juniors or with the senior team a couple of years back.
“Now I think Australian talent is as good as it’s ever been.
“This World Cup is going to be probably the most real chance we’ve ever had to win a gold medal.
“I’ll definitely be there, and I’m really excited for it.”
Giddey is also eyeing off playing for the Boomers at the Paris Olympics in 2024 where the Aussies will look to improve on their bronze medal success in Tokyo.
Originally published as Aussie NBA gun Josh Giddey will play for Australia at the World Cup
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