The Paris Olympics Group A for basketball will kick off with the Australia Boomers and Spain National Basketball Team facing each other on Saturday, July 27. Team Australia’s head coach is Brian Goorjian who possesses a promising team with good shooting and defending abilities. In 2020, the Boomers were third runner-up in the Tokyo Olympics. Also, the team roster has improved since then.
Team Spain will be coming in hot, but not with the top-notch star players like before. However, the Spanish Basketball team has proven their readiness after going 4-for-0 in their four games – two in their Olympic quality tournament and remaining wins in their friendlies. Also, in the last three met-ups between Team Australia and Spain, Spain came out dominant going 3-for-0. Thus, can Spain maintain their winning streak against Australia?
Australia vs. Spain Game Details
Fixture: Australia vs. Spain
Date and Time: July 27 @ 5:00 am ET
Group: A
Streaming: Peacock
Network: CNBC
Paris Olympics Team Review
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Team Australia
The Australian National Basketball team mostly consists of players who are currently in the NBA. One notable player is Patty Mills who was part of the Boomer team that achieved third runner-up in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Also, this is his fifth Olympic appearance as he ties with Andrew Gaze – the only basketball player to have five appearances for Team Australia. Throughout his NBA career, the Miami Heat guard started 112 games and averaged 8.8 points, 2.2 assists, and 1.6 rebounds in 20.2 minutes. Also, the 6’2 player has 42.4% in field goals and 38.6% in three-pointers. Therefore, with Patty Mills on the roster, the Boomers have an offensive edge over Team Spain.
Another NBA player who played with Patty Mills in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics is Joe Ingles. Also, the Timberwolves forward joins Mills to make his fifth Olympic appearance. Throughout his NBA career, the 6 ‘9 player started 313 games and averaged 8.1 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 3.6 assists in 24.7 minutes, making 44.8% on the field and 41% in three-pointers. Also, Ingles is the Utah Jazz’s all-time leader in three-pointers. Also coupled with his offensive prowess, he plays decent defense with his height as an advantage.
Team Spain
The era of the Gasol brothers at the Olympics is over, however, Spain’s team roster looks solid. Rudy Fernandez will look forward to retiring from his Olympic career with style. The 39-year-old forward played briefly in the NBA for the Portland Trail Blazers and Denver Nuggets then moved to Europe where he played most of his basketball career. Internationally, the Spain forward averaged 10.2 points, three rebounds, and 2.4 assists, making 43.2% on the field and 37.2 in three-pointers. Thus, with Fernandez’s basketball experience, he can coordinate his team to clinch its debut win against the Boomers in the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Alex Abrines also played briefly in the NBA for three seasons at Oklahoma City Thunder before moving to Europe. In Europe, the 30-year-old guard played 17 minutes in 479 games to average 6.9 points and 1.9 rebounds with 46.2% in field goals and 42.9% beyond the arc. Thus, the Barcelona guard will headline Spain’s team roster with Fernandez as he did in the 2023 FIBA World Cup.
Possible Breakout Player of the Game
Team Australia
Josh Giddey will make his debut Olympic performance on Saturday. The former OKC Thunder guard averaged 13.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists in 210 games while making 46.4% of his field goal attempts and 31% in three-pointers. Thus, what to watch out for is his three-point play and if it’d improve.
Team Spain
Santi Aldama is one of the few current NBA players on the roster. The 23-year-old forward led the Memphis Grizzlies team in rebounds last season (2023-24). Thus, he started 55 games for the Grizzlies to average 8.7 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Also, the 7-foot player shot 44.7% in the field and 33.3% in three-pointers. Santi Aldama could break out against the Australia Boomers with the help of his veteran team.
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