THE Australian Boomers have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics, after finish as the highest ranked Oceanic team at the 2023 FIBA World Cup.

The result comes as New Zealand found itself defeated by Greece last night, and the Tall Blacks were the only side that could have finished higher than the Aussies. They were instead bested by a classy Greece side, and finished with a record of one win and two losses.

Instead, it is the Boomers that have qualified for the Games, avoiding missing the tournament for the first time since 1972. They are only the second team to officially qualify, with the other being France, who automatically book a spot as the host nation.

The news comes in the 24 hours after Aussie Ben Simmons publicly announced his intentions to join the team for the Olympics next year. Although the team looks extremely settled, if fit and firing, Simmons could bring his skillset to the Boomers and contribute in a big way.

The Boomers are in the midst of a big campaign at the 2023 FIBA World Cup, having just booked a spot in the second round after defeating Japan on Tuesday night. This tournament has marked a changing of the guard of sorts, with the likes of Patty Mills and Joe Ingles taking a bit of a back seat at times.

The likes of Joshua Giddey, Josh Green and Dyson Daniels are taking on big roles within the team, as the Boomers look towards the next generation. Australia took arguably its best ever team to Japan and the Philippines this year, and the quality should only get better as the players mentioned above develop.

There are 10 more spots at the Olympics up for grabs, with Europe and the Americas accounting for two of those each, Africa and Asia have one each, and the remaining four will be decided via qualifying tournaments, which means New Zealand can still make the Games.

In Australia’s last outing at the Olympic Games, the Boomers recorded their first ever podium finish, taking home bronze medal in a huge step forward for Australian basketball.

With a plethora of young talent and the Australian basketball system producing even more talent as the years progress, the Boomers will be eager to go one step further in Paris. The qualification eases the Aussies’ minds ahead of the Games, and now all focus will be on the World Cup, with Australia’s next game slated for tomorrow night.