Josh Giddy is one of the new players added to the Australian team for the Paris Olympics without any major changes. After all, the team has repeated eight of the 12 bronze medallists in Tokyo. The point guard enters a gear that is working and, therefore, knows he should be confident. The team may not be as popular once again, but there is no doubt about its high potential.
“First of all, we are comfortable with the players we have here and the team we have built. We believe we can face and beat any team on the planet. We are not thinking too far ahead in the tournament, because we need to focus on each game at once. But, thinking about the most talked-about teams, I guarantee we are ready to challenge anyone”, said the “youngest” of the team.
Attendance at Paris-2024 has a special meaning for Giddy. The new player of the Chicago Bulls was one of the last Australian “cuts” before the Tokyo Olympics. In other words, he already knew about participating in the competition. And, more than that, there is already an Olympic medal. It was a sad experience, but it helps him appreciate the moment he is experiencing even more.
“I always say that participating in the Olympic Games is a rare opportunity. It certainly doesn’t happen every day. So, when we get an opportunity like this we need to be ready to take advantage. We need to rise to the challenge. And, after all these years, I am confident that our group will be up for it,” the youngster said.
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Josh Giddy, in fact, arrived at the Olympics with Australia at a very positive moment. The team won three of its four preliminary friendlies, including victories over mighty Serbia and France. The only defeat came against the United States, but in a game in which they dominated the second half. The young man understands the North American bias, but knows that his opponent is far from being invincible.
“Of course, on paper, the USA has the most talented team in the world. That is no secret. But one difference between them is that their players have never played together. Meanwhile, all the other teams have a base that has been playing together for a few years. So, in such a quick tournament it is an advantage in our favor”, the point guard analyzed.
The Australians lost to the Americans by just six points – 98 to 92. For Giddy, this was proof that they could surprise once again. “The USA is a team with a huge talent and therefore, beating them will be a challenge for anyone. But, as I said, we have a lot of confidence in each player here and what we can do together”, he concluded.
Face the challenge
Australia will need this good moment, as their challenge in Paris is huge. Brian Goorjian’s team is in Group A, which is considered the toughest in the first stage. They will face Spain, Greece and Canada. In other words, this is a group of four medal candidates. The Australians will open the competition against the Spaniards next Saturday morning.
The bronze medal in Tokyo was the first in the history of Australian men’s basketball at the Olympics. And it came after a history of disappointment. In the previous eight games, the “Boomers” reached four third-place decisions and had lost all of them. Finally, a bronze victory came in a duel against Slovenia.
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