GIDDEY CONFIRMS BOOMERS CALL FOR 2023 FIBA WORLD CUP

Budding NBA star Josh Giddey has confirmed his commitment to play for Australia at this year’s FIBA World Cup.

The Oklahoma City guard continued to make a name for himself in his second NBA season averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 points, 6.2 assists as the Thunder began to build towards success.

With the FIBA World Cup set for the Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines in August and September, Giddey says he’s excited to don the green and gold in the tournament.

“I will be there,” Giddey told SEN Breakfast.

“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.”

With Giddey set to line up alongside fellow NBA players Patty Mills, Jock Landale, Joe Ingles,

Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, Matisse Thybulle and potentially even Ben Simmons, the 20-year-old thinks the Aussies may have their best chance ever to claim gold.

“I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Boomers,” Giddey said.

“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.”

The Boomers will hope to take a similarly stacked team into the Olympics which will take place in Paris in 2024.