NBA star Josh Giddey is eyeing off Australia’s “most real chance” at a FIBA World Cup title after confirming he’ll go well with up for the nationwide workforce.
The 20-year-old guard has loved a shocking rise to prominence, serving to Oklahoma City Thunder into the play-in match this season.
He will look to have an identical impression with the Boomers on the World Cup, declaring: “I will be there.”
This 12 months’s version of the match will likely be performed in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines all through August and September.
“I’ve always dreamed of playing for the Boomers,” Giddey instructed SEN on Monday.
“I’ve had a couple of brief stints playing for Australia, whether that’s juniors or with the senior team a couple of years back.
“Now, I feel Australian expertise is pretty much as good because 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 undoubtedly be there and I’m very excited for it.”
Giddey is set to feature alongside fellow NBA players Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Jock Landale, Dyson Daniels and Matisse Thybulle in the Boomers’ World Cup squad.
The Boomers lost the third-place play-off at the 2019 World Cup before securing their first Olympic medal with bronze at the Tokyo Games.
Giddey, a Victorian product and former Adelaide 36ers star, has previously spoken about his frustrations at being left out of the Olympics squad as a teenager two years ago.
“You develop up as a basketball participant desirous to be part of the inexperienced and gold at a World Cup or an Olympic Games, and I used to be no completely different,” he mentioned on Monday.
“I bear in mind when the Olympics had been happening, I might’ve been 12 years outdated and it was in London, and I bear in mind taking days off faculty to take a seat down and watch these video games.”
Giddey averaged 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists as a key player for Oklahoma City in his second NBA season.
He shot the ball at 48.2 per cent from the field and has targeted shooting as his most important area for improvement over the off-season.
Giddey produced an equal career-high 31 factors within the Thunder’s play-in match win over New Orleans final week earlier than a loss to Minnesota ended their season.
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
