Australia announces Olympic squad ahead of US basketball event in Abu Dhabi – News

Australia will play Team USA on July 15 and Serbia on July 16 at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi.

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Australia’s Patty Mills goes to the basket during the international friendly basketball match against China at the John Cain Arena in Melbourne on July 4. — AFP

Australia has announced its final squad for the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, drawing on a host of the world’s best players.

Before the talented team travels to France, it will participate in a preparatory camp in preparation for the Games in Abu Dhabi. This camp is organized by the American men’s national basketball team and includes three important exhibition games from July 15 to 17.

The Australian Boomers, ranked No. 5 in the world, are the 2022 FIBA ​​Asia champions and Tokyo 2020 bronze medalists. Their 2024 roster features eight players from the Tokyo team, including 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.

Former NBA guard Dellavedova made it to his fourth Olympics, but there was no roster spot for Portland Trail Blazers defensive star Matisse Thybulle.

During the Olympic Games, the Boomers will play in the group stage against Canada and two teams from the final round of the qualifying tournaments.

The competition runs from July 27 to August 11. The preliminary rounds take place in Lille, followed by the play-offs in Paris.

Meanwhile, the Boomers’ first game at the USA Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi on July 15 is against the U.S. national team, which features 12 athletes with extensive experience in American basketball.

The U.S. team will feature three-time Olympic champion Kevin Durant and the NBA’s all-time leading scorer LeBron James, who has two Olympic gold medals. In addition to Durant and James, the NBA’s all-time leader in career 3-pointers, Stephen Curry, will also be on the roster.

The Australians will play Serbia, ranked No. 4 in the world, on July 16. Serbia, who reached the final of last year’s FIBA ​​World Cup, recently announced their preliminary roster, which includes current NBA MVP Nikola Jokic, who was not part of their World Cup squad. Other key players on Serbia’s preliminary roster include Vasilije Micic, Aleksej Pokusevski, Nikola Jovic and Bogdan Bogdanovic.

The final game of the US Basketball Showcase in Abu Dhabi is a match between Serbia and the United States at the Etihad Arena in Abu Dhabi on July 17.