THE 2024 Paris Olympics are set to kick off in the next 48 hours, with Australia’s basketball hopes high with both the men’s and women’s teams taking strong sides into the world’s premier tournament. 

After claiming bronze at the Tokyo Olympics, the Aussies are back and looking to go a couple of steps further by taking home gold. However, with an extremely stacked landscape, that task will be easier said than done. 

Regardless, the Boomers will be filled with confidence after a pre-Olympic campaign that saw them go 4-1 and take down a pair of contending sides in Serbia and France over the past seven days. 

Australian Boomers

The Team

Patty Mills 

Joshua Giddey

Dyson Daniels 

Dante Exum 

Nick Kay 

Jock Landale 

Jack McVeigh 

Josh Green 

Will Magnay 

Duop Reath 

Matthew Dellavedova 

Joe Ingles 

The Boomers have brought an extremely stacked list to the Paris Olympics, one that boasts a healthy balance of experience and youth. Although veteran pair Mills and Ingles may not be able to hit the highs of the past, their wisdom and experience will prove invaluable to the likes of Giddey, Green and Daniels, who loom as the future of the side. 

One obstacle that may prove challenging for the Aussies is the concern surrounding the availability of Exum. During the second quarter of Australia’s win over France, Exum dislocated his finger and missed the remainder of the game. The news after the game could have been worse, with the guard set to re-join the team at some point during the group stage. However, he is in doubt for the first clash against Spain, and Australia will be hoping he returns sooner rather than later. 

There is impressive depth at each position, and it seems that Brian Goorjian prefers Magnay over Reath, despite the latter initially predicted to get the nod. The recent NBL Champion brings more physicality and defensive presence than his teammate, and has performed well recently during the exhibition matches. 

The Group

Australia 

Greece 

Spain 

Canada 

Although ‘Group of Death’ is a commonly used term, it is unequivocally the case with Australia’s group at the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Boomers will be facing off against some of the biggest contenders at the entire tournament, with no shortage of superstars between Australia and a medal. 

Greece boasts the talent of Giannis Antetokounmpo who is undoubtedly one of the best players at the Olympics. ‘The Greek Freak’ is an athletic machine that is capable of dropping a match-winning performance on any given night, automatically making Greece a scary prospect. 

Spain’s roster may not boast many superstars, but the nation has historically been competitive when it comes to international basketball. Although some of the big names such as the Gasol brothers and Ricky Rubio are missing, the Spanish side is always built for FIBA basketball, and should be a strong chance once again. 

Finally, the biggest threat to Group A is Canada, a side that is absolutely stacked with NBA talent. The Canadian team is considered the most likely competitor to Team USA, and is the favourite of this group to advance. With a roster that is made up of nearly all NBA players including superstar guards Shai-Gilgeous Alexander and Jamal Murray, the Boomers will need to bring their A-Game to upset one of the tournament favourites.