File-breaking Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey has opened as much as Matt Logue on his golden Boomers dream — and why no spot within the squad is assured.
Rising Australian NBA star Josh Giddey believes the Boomers are in a “gold-medal” window that he would “love” to be a part of for years to return — beginning with subsequent yr’s World Cup.
Giddey is the most recent NBA participant to place his hand up for Australia’s Cup marketing campaign, becoming a member of the likes of Jock Landale, Dyson Daniels and Patty Mills.
The OKC Thunder guard says the Australian males’s program has grow to be so sturdy that gold medals are now not only a pipe dream.
“With the expertise that we have now obtainable for the World Cup and Olympics, the gold medal chances are high as actual as they’ve ever been,” Giddey stated.
“When the time comes, I’d like to play within the World Cup.
“It’s one thing as a child that you just dream of doing, representing your nation.
“I’m excited for that when it comes round.”
The Boomers have the deepest pool of basketball expertise in Australian historical past to pick out a squad from for subsequent yr’s World Cup in August-September.
Australia’s NBA stars, and at the very least a dozen NBL gamers, are within the combine for 12 roster spots.
Giddey expects the competitors for positions to be fierce.
“There are going to be elite guys that get left off the staff,” he stated.
“It (the depth) might be at an all-time excessive.
“It’s an excellent downside to have with the expertise we’re going to have miss out on the staff, which signifies that Australian basketball is progressing in the correct method.
“I watch the NBL as a lot as I can and it’s nice to see the Aussie guys, particularly the youthful guys come up, and actually make a reputation for themselves.
“When choice camp comes round, it’s going to be fascinating as a result of quite a lot of good gamers are going to overlook out.”
TACKLING SECOND YEAR HEAD ON
Giddey concedes he’s confronted the inevitable bumps that include a second NBA season, however he has accepted it as a actuality of the world’s finest league.
The Melbourne-born guard is embracing the truth that he has gone from the hunter to the hunted this season following a stellar rookie season that featured 4 triple-doubles — three of these in succession, making him the youngest to attain that feat since hall-of-famer Oscar Robinson in 1961.
“The largest distinction (in your second season), in a great way, is that you understand what to anticipate,” stated Giddey, who’s averaging 13.5 factors, 5.5 rebounds and 5.3 assists this season regardless of lacking three video games with a proper ankle sprain.
“You’ve had a yr of 82 video games below your belt with the journey, the late nights, the completely different schedules you’ve needed to alter to.
“Then the reverse of that’s that groups determine you out. They perceive easy methods to play you now after taking part in in opposition to you for a yr.
“So, it’s about discovering methods to regulate to that, however I’m loving it. I like my staff and the fellows I’m with each day, so it has been a enjoyable time whereas I’ve been right here.”
EXPECTATIONS IN OKC
The rebuilding OKC Thunder aren’t anticipated to make a lot noise this season, however it received’t cease Giddey dreaming large.
The Thunder received simply 24 video games final season to complete second final within the 15-team Western Convention.
Oklahoma Metropolis has opened the 2022-23 season with a 4-5 report to sit down eleventh within the West.
It received’t be straightforward for the Thunder to climb the standings, however Giddey is embracing the problem.
“As a younger and rebuilding group, it’s laborious to go from that final yr to being a championship contender in a single yr, however we perceive that we’re getting higher,” he stated.
“You possibly can already see the enhancements that we’ve comprised of final yr with guys individually and as a staff.
“So, we’re on track. Whether or not that’s the playoffs, the play-in or we miss the playoffs utterly, I feel that if we will look again on the finish of this yr and say we’ve made progress from 12 months in the past, then we’re going to be joyful.”
A BROWNLOW IN BUSINESS
Giddey is eyeing an extended future in enterprise after becoming a member of AFL stars Tom Mitchell, Patrick Cripps and Lachie Neale as a co-owner and content material creator for the favored health and expertise app, Ball Magnets.
It’s a free coaching and improvement app that goals to encourage, inform and entertain aspiring athletes with insights and coaching drills used on the highest stage.
The concept to get entangled within the app was sparked at considered one of Giddey’s talking occasions in Melbourne in April when he sat alongside Mitchell – the previous Hawthorn midfielder who has moved to Collingwood.
“I had no concept that Tom was going to be there, however he was really sitting proper subsequent to me at my desk,” stated Giddey, who’s taking dwelling $6.2 million for the 2022-23 NBA season.
“I’m nonetheless a giant Hawks fan and he was my favorite participant when he was on the membership.
“I knew what they had been doing with Ball Magnets, and it was all the time one thing I discovered fascinating.
“Once I was a younger child this (app) is the right factor that I might’ve cherished to have, with insights from individuals the place you aspire to be at.”
Giddey hopes his involvement within the Ball Magnets app is a place to begin for extra alternatives.
“It (enterprise) is certainly an avenue that I wish to department off into and hopefully that is the beginning of an extended enterprise profession forward,” he stated.
“I haven’t actually had a lot to do with it as a result of I’m nonetheless so younger, so I’m form of rising into it and studying about it as I am going.”
Ball Magnets is a FREE App that has been developed by among the finest AFL, AFLW and NBA gamers. Obtain now and discover out what it takes to coach like an AFL and NBA participant and discover tricks to begin enhancing your sport.
Initially printed as Josh Giddey opens up on his hovering NBA profession, Boomers ambitions and his off-court team-up with a trio of AFL Brownlow medallists