Goorjian Ready for "Challenging" World Cup Group

The groups for the upcoming FIBA World Cup have been announced, and the Boomers look set for a difficult opening qualification stage.

Drawn with Finland, Germany and Japan, Australia’s path out of the group looks to be beset by challenges from NBA level talents including Dennis Schroeder and Maxi Kleber (Germany), Lauri Markkanen (Finland), and Rui Hachimura and Yuta Wantanabe (Japan).

“Japan in Japan is going to be tough,” Boomers coach and Australian basketball legend Brian Goorjian said. “We played Germany and it was line ball at the Olympic qualifications, Finland has played everyone tough over there and qualified.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Australian Boomers’ group for August’s <a href="https://twitter.com/FIBAWC?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@fibawc</a> has been locked in ?<br><br>Germany, Finland and Japan await the Australians in Okinawa, Japan ?????? <a href="https://t.co/Ynx9BZP8wf">pic.twitter.com/Ynx9BZP8wf</a></p>&mdash; NBL (@NBL) <a href="https://twitter.com/NBL/status/1652341004761198592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 29, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

“There’s a respect for these teams.

“I find this tournament really challenging because it’s game after game.

“A lot of the teams that could beat anybody don’t qualify for the Olympics, so they’re all there and it’s a real challenge.

“It becomes more real now that we know where we’re playing, and who we’re playing.”

A New Zealand side that is set to be represented by a swathe of NBL talent has been drawn alongside USA, Greece and Jordan in Group C, while South Sudan will clash with Serbia, China and Puerto Rico in Group B.

A potential reunion between Melbourne United’s Chris Goulding and NBL21 championship teammate Yudai Baba could be on the cards in the group stage, with Baba set to represent Japan.

The former United forward most recently played for the Texas Legends in the NBA G-League.