Australia has revealed its final squad for the 2024 Paris Olympic Games, featuring some of the world's top players. Prior to their arrival in France, the team will participate in a pre-Games training camp in Abu Dhabi, organized by the USA Basketball Men's National Team. This camp includes three exhibition matches scheduled from July 15-17.
The Australian Boomers, currently ranked 5th globally, are the reigning FIBA Asia champions and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists. Their lineup for 2024 includes eight players from the Tokyo squad, such as Patty Mills (captain), Joe Ingles, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Green, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Duop Reath, Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey, Will Magnay, and Jack McVeigh. Dellavedova has secured a spot for his fourth Olympics, but Matisse Thybulle, known for his defensive prowess with the Portland Trail Blazers, did not make the cut.
In the Olympic group stage, the Boomers will face Canada and two other teams from the final qualifying rounds. The competition spans from July 27 to August 11, with preliminary rounds in Lille and playoffs in Paris. The Boomers' first match in the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi is set for July 15 against the USA national team, which boasts 12 players with extensive USA basketball experience, including three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and NBA all-time scoring leader LeBron James.
The Australians will also play against Serbia, ranked 4th in the world, on July 16. Serbia, finalists in the last FIBA World Cup, recently announced their provisional squad, featuring current NBA MVP Nikola Jokic. Other notable players include Vasilije Micic, Aleksej Pokusevski, Nikola Jovic, and Bogdan Bogdanovic. The final match of the US Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi will see Serbia take on the USA at the Etihad Arena on July 17.
