Australian Basketball Team for Paris Olympics: Brian Goorjian Names Olympic Squad

Brian Goorjian, the coach, has to reduce the 22-man roster to 12.

TFD – Get insights into the Australian basketball team’s lineup for the Paris Olympics, handpicked by coach Brian Goorjian.

Ben Simmons is officially out of the frame for the Games due to injury.

When the Boomers play “Aussie ball” in Paris, Brian Goorjian will capitalize on Josh Giddey’s NBA comeback form. Although the coach has named an initial 22-man Olympic squad, it has left room for some surprise selections.

On the roster that Goorjian revealed on Thursday, teenagers Johnny Furphy and Rocco Zikarsky stand out. The group also features 10 players from Australia’s bronze medal-winning team from Tokyo 2020, in addition to current NBA stars Giddey and Dyson Daniels.

Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum and Jock Landale are all available, although the injured Ben Simmons is now officially out of the frame for a Boomers return after back problems ended the Brooklyn guard’s season early.

With just 12 players selected before the July Games start, Goorjian will have to make some difficult decisions, especially in light of veteran guard Matthew Dellavedova’s impressive NBL play after being left off of the roster for the World Cup the previous year.

However, the coach has indicated that there may still be opportunity for some left-field selections. Goorjian’s preference for shooters and front-court versatility is demonstrated by the addition of college guard Furphy, 19, and NBL players Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay, and DJ Vasiljevic, as well as 17-year-old center Zikarsky.

Star player Furphy of the Kansas City Jayhawks has jumped up to No. 28 in ESPN’s draft estimations, while this month’s MVP of the victorious Australia under-18 Albert Schweitzer Tournament campaign was Zikarsky of Brisbane.

With Australia matched up against an NBA-stacked Canada and two qualifiers that can include Spain, Slovenia, Greece, or Croatia, the Boomers’ road to the championship is far from assured.

Goorjian told AAP that the team would attack more directly and avoid adopting a European style of offense in response to a dismal 2023 World Cup. He also wants to field the world’s greatest defensive team.

This will work to Oklahoma City guard Giddey’s advantage. The 21-year-old’s fast-break offense was effective during a purple streak in March that included consecutive games with 25, 31, and 23 points, followed by a triple-double.

According to Goorjian, “it is widely believed that the talent and international NBA star power among the teams will make the tournament unprecedented.” “I will emphasize to the group that we are not trying to emulate or mimic the game that is coming our way from other countries. We want to defeat them.

We’re gonna engage in some Aussie ball. And we’re going to throw everything at them.

Australia’s 22-man Olympic squad for Paris

Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Dante Exum, Sam Froling, Johnny Furphy, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Will Magnay, Will McDowell-White, Jack McVeigh, Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Dejan Vasiljevic, Jack White, and Rocco Zikarsky.