Olympics: NBA star Josh Giddey says Australian Boomers team’s talent ‘as good as it’s ever been’

Freshly-unveiled Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey believes this crop of Australian Boomers is as good as any the country has seen, as they prepare for an assault on Olympic gold in Paris.

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 28: Australian Boomers player Josh Giddey attends an in-store appearance at QV Shopping Centre on June 28, 2024 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Fresh off the plane from Chicago after being unveiled by his new NBA team and straight into the first official day of the Australian Boomers’ bid to better their Tokyo Olympic bronze medal, Josh Giddey believes the talent among the 17 Paris hopefuls is as good as the country has seen.

A host of Boomers battling to make the 12-man Olympic squad sported cuts and bruises following Friday’s intense first session as they visited Foot Locker QV to show off the green and gold jerseys they would don next week during a pair of clashes with China at Melbourne’s John Cain Arena.

The Melbourne-born point guard said last year’s World Cup failure left a “sour taste” and is adamant a gold medal is within reach – despite a stacked Team USA and raft of NBA talent-laden squads from all over the world standing in their way

Australian Boomers player Josh Giddey was unveiled as a Chicago Bull before boarding a flight to join the Olympics squad. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

“We know the sour taste the World Cup left in our mouths ... and to finish the way it did, wasn’t good for any of us,” Giddey said.

“So we’re very happy to be able to go to Paris now and have another chance to get up on that podium with a gold medal.

“So it’s exciting. We’ve got a great group of guys. The talent’s as good as it’s ever been in Australian basketball and we’re excited to get to Paris.”

The 21-year-old, last week traded from Oklahoma City to the Bulls after a difficult season on and off the court, spent a whirlwind 48 hours in Chicago, before landing back in Melbourne on Thursday.

Josh Giddey was traded from the Oklahoma City Thunder to Chicago Bulls. Picture: Layne Murdoch Jr./NBAE via Getty Images

He acknowledged a fresh start was optimal for both he and the Thunder.

“I’m very excited with the team that they’ve (Chicago) got and the city was great,” he said.

“The organisation, front office, coaches, the guys on the team are awesome.

“I was only there for 48 hours but it was good to get a feel for the city, the fans and I know the history of that club and how far back it goes.

“So I’m very excited to get over there in September and get into it.”

Nine members of the Boomers Olympics squad appeared in-store at QV Shopping Centre in Melbourne on Thursday. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Giddey said the opening salvo of the Boomers Paris prep was willing.

“Any time we get back together as a group, you feel it from day one,” he said.

“It’s an honour to play in the green and gold and guys are going to relish that moment when they have an opportunity to do it and I think when we all get together in camp, we bring the best out of each other.

“It’s competitive, it’s intense, and it’s like that from day one.

“It doesn’t take two, three, four or five days to build into it.

“Coaches and leaders set the tone right from the jump and guys follow so it’s an awesome environment to be in.

“It’s a lot of fun getting to come to practice with this group every day and it’s the momentum we need going into the Olympics.”

BOOMERS V CHINA

Tuesday, July 2, John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Thursday, July 4, John Cain Arena, Melbourne

Originally published as Olympics: NBA star Josh Giddey says Australian Boomers team’s talent ‘as good as it’s ever been’