Goorjian's 'toughest decision ever'

From 22, to 17, to 12; Brian Goorjian faces an almighty challenge finalising his Australian Boomers team ahead of the Paris Olympics.

Right now, the squad stands at 17. Two games will decide who makes the cut.

“This is going to be the toughest one ever. Those five calls are going to be very, very difficult,” Goorjian told Triple M’s Rush Hour.

Among the 17 are seven NBL-rostered players, with Xavier Cooks, Matthew Dellavedova, Chris Goulding, Will Magnay, Jack McVeigh, DJ Vasiljevic and Jack White highlighting the incredible talent in the league right now.

Josh Giddey, Dante Exum, Josh Green and Patty Mills are among those plying their trade in the NBA, with Australia boasting some of the best depth it has in a long time.

“I’ve got to say, over the years there’s been a lot of situations and the national team is always going to be the extreme,” Goorjian said of having to narrow the squad.

The Boomers’ two games against China in early July will decide final selection, before further games against the USA and Serbia on the eve of the Olympic campaign.

Last year’s World Cup was one to forget for Goorjian’s team, but who could forget that magical bronze medal at Tokyo in 2021?

This time around the Boomers will be drawn against Canada and the winner of two qualifying tournaments in Spain and Greece in the pool stage.

“When you look at these Olympics just from outside and the competition, I think it’s going to be the strongest ever in basketball,” Goorjian said.

“The international tone of the NBA – so many of the top players now and so many of the players in the NBA are international. All those players, because of Paris and where we are in basketball now are playing.

“Our pool is going to be two European teams and Canada, which just bronze-medalled – they’ll have (Jamal) Murray and Shai (Gilgeous-Alexander) in the back-court … two of the best.

“It’s going to be a challenge, but we’ve got a nice group that I think is going to do Australia proud.”

While Canada looms as an intimidating clash, Goorjian says it’s hard to go past Team USA as the gold medal favourites.

Among their squad, LeBron James, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Anthony Edwards and Steph Curry, just to name a few.

“Team USA – this might be the best team ever assembled,” Goorjian added.

“The game right now is at it’s all-time high in terms of talent goes.”