'He's a Huge Piece of This Moving Forward': Josh Giddey Set to Guide Australia in 2023 FIBA World Cup

Giddey's opportunity to play for the Australia Boomers was stripped away in 2020 following the team's ultimate roster decisions. Now in 2023, the 20-year-old point guard is set to be the main focal point of the Boomers' offensive scheme.

Two years ago, Melbourne native Josh Giddey was eagerly competing for a roster spot on the Australia Boomers in order to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, which would later be postponed until summer 2021.

As an 18-year-old, then-unproven guard, he was the ultimate cut on that Boomers team. After falling to the United States in a 97-78 loss, Australia then went on to earn a bronze medal led by NBA veteran Patty Mills.

But now – as one of the best rising young point guards in the NBA – head coach Brian Goorjian has evaluated and determined Giddey is the dynamic playmaker the Boomers need to bridge that gap and claim gold in the 2023 FIBA World Cup at the end of August.

“He’s a huge piece of this moving forward. Not just this, but it’s like an Andrew Gaze, as far as the Boomers. What he is, and as we get him with the group, and as it expands, a lot of it’s gotta be built around him,” Goorjian told ESPN’s Olgun Uluc.

FIBA Josh Giddey coming 🔜

(IG/australianboomers) pic.twitter.com/zFPR5ScjQ0

— TF (@ThunderFocus) August 7, 2023

Gaze, a former Australian basketball player, was a vital producer for the Boomers from 1984 to 2000. The 6-foot-7 shooting guard averaged 19.7 points on 53% from the field and 42% from 3-point range in his career.

If Giddey were to produce anywhere close to the scoring numbers Gaze posted combined with his well-known passing and overall playmaking ability, Australia has a strong chance to be in the runnings for a medal at the end of this month.

Giddey will be the facilitator for the likes of other former and current NBA players in Mills, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Aron Baynes and others.

With as much firepower as the 20-year-old point guard has, alongside his growing feel and pace for the game, this will be a huge learning opportunity for OKC’s young, promising floor general.

“One of the decisions made: when he’s on the floor, we’re gonna put the ball in his hands a lot,” Goorjian said.

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