Paris 2024 men's basketball team preview: Australia
Australia became the first nation from outside the Americas and European regions to win a medal in the men's basketball competition at the Olympic Games Tokyo 2020, but failed to progress from the group stage at the FIBA World Cup last year.
Despite their disappointing performance at the World Cup, Australia's 10th-place finish was enough to secure qualification to Olympic Games Paris 2024 as the best-ranked team from Oceania.
Australia's preliminary 17-man team is full of veteran NBA talent (as well as some up-and-coming stars), but will that be enough for the Boomers to match the bronze they won in Tokyo - or even improve on it?
Australia men's basketball: Stats & Key figures
World Ranking: 5th
Olympic Games
- Apperances: 15
- Medals: Bronze (Tokyo 2020)
FIBA World Cup
- Apperances: 13
- Medals: None
FIBA Oceania Championship
- Apperances: 21
- Medals: Gold (1971, 1975, 1978, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015), Silver (2001, 2009)
FIBA Asia Cup
- Apperances: 2
- Medals: Gold (2017, 2022)
Mills, Dellavedova and Ingles spearhead experienced Boomers squad
They may not be getting any younger, but the trio of Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Joe Ingles have a combined 33 years' worth of experience playing in the NBA - the top men's professional league in the world.
Furthermore, Mills and Dellavedova have both won NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and Cleveland Cavaliers respectively, while all three were part of the Australian team that earned bronze in Japan in 2021.
In short: the trio form the foundation of the Australian team, and all are proven winners. But they're not alone.
Other notable names of the premilinary Boomers squad include two-time NBA All-Defensive Second Team member Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum of the Dallas Mavericks, and Jock Landale of the Houston Rockets - not to mention Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.
This current rendition of the Australia team may not have as much star power as the other powerhouse nations in the world such as France, the USA and Canada, but this is nonetheless an experienced group primarily made up of NBA veterans who have achieved success at the highest level. Moreover, they will no doubt be looking to redeem themselves after a poor showing at the FIBA World Cup, and a third-place Olympic finish just three years ago shows they still have a shot at making the podium in Paris.
Whether they have a successful tournament this summer may come down to the performance of two players in particular: Giddey and Daniels
Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels: the future of Australian basketball
Giddey and Daniels, both just 21 years old, could be integral to the Boomers' success in Paris despite being the youngest members of the Australian team.
Giddey has already established himself as an elite passer and masterful floor general at the point guard position, earning a spot on the NBA All-Rookie Second Team in 2022 and receiving the FIBA Basketball World Cup Rising Star award last year after averaging 19.4 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists per game at the tournament. The Thunder star had a difficuilt postseason in the NBA playoffs, shooting just 45 per cent from the field, so look for him to be more aggressive and confident in Paris as he competes at his first Olympic Games.
Josh Giddey #3 of Australia.
Daniels is not the offensive threat that Giddey is, but he is arguably the best defender on the Boomers team already. The New Orleans Pelican excels in one-on-one defense, which could be crucial considering Australia find themselves in Group A alongside Canada, who possess one of the best one-on-one players in all of basketball in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.
He may not start every game, but expect Daniels to be assigned to the best offensive threat on the opposing team whenever he gets on the court.
Australia's group at Paris 2024
Australia has been drawn in Group A along with FIBA World Cup bronze medallists Canada and the winners of the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments (OQT) in Spain and Greece.
Australia's group phase games
27 July, 11:00 CET: Australia v Winner OQT Spain
31 July, 13:30 CET: Canada v Australia
2 August, 13:30 CET: Australia v Winner OQT Greece