Boomers trim Olympic squad

The Australian Boomers’ squad for the Paris Olympics has been trimmed to 17 players ahead of next month’s training camp. 

Five players - Will McDowell-White, Keanu Pinder, Rocco Zikarsky, Sam Froling, and Johnny Furphy – have been cut from the initial Boomers squad. 

The final team will be comprised of 12 players, with the training camp and exhibition games in July to help determine the final team.

The 17-man squad is Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Will Magnay, Jack McVeigh, Patty Mills, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Dejan Vasiljevic and Jack White.  

There are six current NBL players in the squad (Dellavedova, Goulding, Magnay, McVeigh, Vasiljevic and White), while it has been reported Cooks could return to the Sydney Kings. 

“The standard of the tournament is going to be at an all-time high and we’re excited with the group that we’ve put together,” Boomers coach Brian Goorjian said. 

“It’s a special group and an exciting time for basketball and the country. We will get the guys together and get the energy right. 

“The level of talent that the country is producing is at a new level. We’ve got guys competing against the best in leagues around the world and the NBL continues to advance as a world class level for Australian talent.

“We won’t over-complicate things here. We’ve got an exciting group of players that all present unique strengths and advantages. Our goal is to maximise that.” 

Ahead of the Olympics, Australia will face China on July 2 and 4 at John Cain Arena, before travelling to Abu Dhabi to play the USA on July 15 and Serbia on July 16.