Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey makes huge call on playing future but Ben Simmons remains a mystery
Rising NBA star Josh Giddey has confirmed his commitment to play for Australia at this year’s FIBA World Cup.
The Oklahoma City Thunder guard joins the likes of Patty Mills, Jock Landale, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels and Matisse Thybulle to represent green and gold in the tournament that will take place in Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines this August and September.
Giddey, who is only 20 years old, has been making a name for himself in the NBA since his debut season with the Thunder.
In his second NBA season, he averaged 16.6 points at a 48.2 percent clip, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists, helping the Thunder qualify for the play-in tournament.
He also tied his career-high with 31 points in a thrilling rout of New Orleans, adding 10 assists and nine rebounds in a record-breaking performance for the Thunder in their 123–118 play-in victory.
Giddey had an overwhelming second season in the NBA and has now committed to play for the Australian Boomers at this year’s FIBA World Cup
A teenage Giddey cut his teeth in the Australian NBL with the Adelaide 36ers before being called up to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA
Although the Timberwolves ended the Thunder’s playoff hopes in a 120-95 victory, Giddey is still excited to represent Australia in the FIBA World Cup.
He has always dreamed of representing the Boomers and is looking forward to playing alongside some of the best Australian basketball players in the world.
Giddey believes this year’s FIBA World Cup may be the most realistic chance Australia has ever had to win a gold medal.
“I think Australian talent is as good as it’s ever been. This World Cup is probably going to be the most real chance we’ve ever had to win a gold medal,” he said.
“I’ll be there for sure, and I’m really looking forward to it.”
With Giddey’s effort, Australia’s chances of winning the FIBA World Cup have received a significant boost.
The Boomers hope to bring a stacked team, but whether troubled Aussie star Ben Simmons will join them is still up in the air.
Andrew Gaze, Australia’s leading male basketball player, believes it is “definitely” that Simmons will join the Boomers in this year’s World Cup.
The Brooklyn Nets star, who previously retired from representing the Boomers at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 FIBA World Cup, has had a rough few years in the NBA.
Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova are two high-profile NBA players who have been an integral part of the Boomers at international tournaments
Australia pose for photos on the podium with their historic bronze medals after beating Slovenia in Tokyo. Giddey believes the team can now go better and win gold at the World Cup
After a disastrous playoff series with the 76ers, Simmons sat out demanding a trade, before being moved to Brooklyn and subsequently suffering a back injury.
He returned for the 2022–23 season for the Nets, but his performance was lackluster, averaging just seven points, six rebounds and six assists per game.
Gaze believes the Boomer culture and environment would be the perfect place for Simmons to revive his career this offseason.
“I think, given the circumstances, if you think Ben is going to get back to the form he once had, for him personally, if I’m advising Ben Simmons now, it’s best for him to get out of this situation to help you grow game and help you feel your love for the game again would be to be part of the World Cup team,” Gaze said on SEN earlier this year.
The sight of Ben Simmons sitting on the sidelines has become all too common and he has yet to commit to the Boomers at a major tournament
Aussie legend Andrew Gaze collapsed on live television as the Boomers won bronze in Tokyo. He believes Ben Simmons could change his career by representing Australia
Gaze added that Simmons should contact Basketball Australia to confirm his desire to play for his country.
“In the past, it was Basketball Australia that reached out to Ben and asked ‘can you do this, can you do this’. If I’m Simmons, I’m contacting Basketball Australia now. I need to find that love,” Gaze said.
“I need to find a safe environment where I can grow my game and be around people who will take care of me. That’s not how it works in the NBA. It’s different in the NBA. Completely different. You are on an island, even though you have teammates.
“Culturally, it’s not like team sports in Australia. It’s so far removed that it’s just not funny.
“For him to get into this environment, to look at the game from a different perspective, to get some love from a coach and a teammate where there’s a lot less pressure, a lot less control and to let some of those things happen again.” to grow.
“For me, that’s an answer to some of his problems.”