Josh Giddey has given Australian basketball fans a glimpse of the Boomers’ future and boy it looks very good.
Australia claimed a dominant 97-41 win over Venezuela on Monday night at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena in the first of three warm-up games ahead of the FIBA World Cup, which tips off later this month.
FIBA Basketball World Cup | Starts Aug 25. Watch every Boomers, Team USA and Finals game FREE & LIVE on ESPN with Kayo Freebies. Join Kayo now and start streaming instantly >
A teenaged Giddey was overlooked for the Boomers’ historic Tokyo Olympics campaign but after two years in the NBA, the 20-year-old is now the face of a deep Australian team.
Giddey made his national debut in early 2020 but he looked a different player and a class above as he pulled the strings for the Boomers against Venezuela.
The OKC Thunder youngster started the game and put his stamp on the contest early, racking up the assists and making big man Duop Reath look like Shaquille O’Neal with sensational passes.
Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze raved about Giddey’s “silver service” passing skills.
“The best way to endear yourself to teammates is to find them,” Gaze said on Channel 9.
“Josh Giddey, absolute perfection. Magic Johnson-like with the drop off to Reath.
“This is outrageous passing by Josh Giddey!”
The Boomers are entering a new era with unprecedented depth and it appears Giddey has officially taken the baton from Patty Mills.
Commentator Brenton Speed asked the obvious question: “Patty Mills is the captain but is this Josh Giddey’s team already?”
Gaze replied: “I wouldn’t go that far. But you’re going to see the ball in Josh Giddey’s hands a lot.”
Australia started the game shooting 10/11 from the field to lead 27-16 at quarter time, stretching their advantage to lead 54-23 at halftime.
Giddey put on an absolute clinic to have seven points, four rebounds and six assists at half time, while Reath, Mills and Matisse Thybulle were also solid for the Boomers.
Giddey looked on track for a rare triple double in a 40-minute FIBA game, but he was benched in the dying stages with 14 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.
Reath finished with a game-high 26 points and the only concern came when sharpshooter Chris Goulding hobbled off in the third quarter and sat out the rest of the game with ice on his right leg.
“We’ve got a few injuries, two guys out now, Jock (Landale) and Chris bumped knees from what I understand, we’ll check that out,” Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said on Nine’s coverage.
“We do have one cut to make and we have a decision to make but one of the key things for us is that backup five spot and it was really nice to see Duop play like that tonight.
“I coached him two years ago, he had a great Summer League, he’s come into camp and he’s a much better player than he was at the last Olympics and tonight was a good sign for us.”
Dyson Daniels came on in the second half, while Josh Green wasn’t required and Jock Landale was rested as he recovers from an ankle injury.
Matthew Dellavedova was cut from the Boomers’ squad in a brutal selection call and coach Brian Goorjian will likely need to choose between Xavier Cooks and Jack White for the last spot in his 12-man squad.
The Boomers will take on Brazil and South Sudan in Melbourne this week, before final World Cup tune-ups against France and Georgia.
FULL SCHEDULE (Times AEST)
Australia vs Venezuela (Monday, August 14 @ 7.45pm)
Australia vs Brazil (Wednesday, August 16 @ 5.30pm)
Australia vs South Sudan (Thursday, August 17 @ 7.45pm)
Australia vs France (Sunday, August 20 @ 2pm)
Australia vs Georgia (Tuesday, August 22 @ TBD)
Discussion about this post