The Boomers Are Coming Home
Melbourne will farewell the Australian Boomers ahead of the 2023 FIBA World Cup this August when they take on fellow World Cup-bound countries, South Sudan, Brazil and Venezuela at Rod Laver Arena over three days.
The Boomers vs World will take place on Monday, 14 August, Wednesday, 16 August and Thursday, 17 August, with two games taking place each evening.
The Australian team for the 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup was announced last on Monday May 8 and the final team will head to Melbourne to partake in the pre-World Cup event.
For the first time, the Boomers have ten current NBA players in their squad including Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Josh Green, Matthew Dellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Jack White, Dyson Daniels and Josh Giddey.
As some of the youngest members, Giddey recently capped off a successful second season for Oklahoma City in the NBA, averaging 16.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists, while point guard Daniels, who was taken at pick 8 in the NBA draft last year, just finished his first season with the New Orleans Pelicans.
Australia’s opponents will all be vying for wins going into a World Cup, a key qualification event for the 2024 Summer Olympics.
Brazil and Venezuela are South America’s second and third-best teams and will be fierce opposition in Melbourne and at the World Cup.
South Sudan is a basketball nation on the rise, with the Bright Stars qualifying for their first World Cup last year in impressive style, playing twelve games and only losing one, topping their qualification group.
Tickets will be on sale via Ticketek from 10AM Monday May 22, with prices starting from $99 for adults, $69 children for a single day or $273 adult and $190 children for a three-day pass to see all the action!