ISTANBUL (Türkiye) - Josh Giddey was more than just an interested observer at the FIBA U17 Basketball World Cup 2026. The NBA point guard star sat courtside in Istanbul watching his native Australia play, impressed with the quality of the team and thinking some of the youngsters could play with him soon in a FIBA Basketball World Cup.
Giddey himself wished he had a chance to play at a FIBA Youth World Cup but he also cannot wait to line up for the Boomers next summer in Qatar.
"They look really good," Giddey said of the Crocs' 88-66 victory over Serbia to open the tournament. "I haven't watched a lot of these guys play. I know a couple of them, but my agent represents a few of the guys, and that's why I came out with him to watch some. But yeah, they look good."
The 23-year-old believes the current U17 crop has promise.
"This is where it all starts, at this age group, and they look good. So hopefully we've got a few future senior team players and the future NBA guys in the Under-17 team now."
He added: "The basketball in Australia is as good as it's ever been at this point. We've constantly got a new crop of kids coming through, and then when our older guys retire at the end of their careers, the kind of fall off is never there because of all our new kids coming through. So I am excited."
Giddey was particularly impressed with Luke Paul, who will play next season in the Next Star program of the Australian NBL league with Cairns Taipans.
"I love him, I love his game. I think he's got the opportunity to be a really, really good NBA player, and he's obviously young now. He's got two years before he can even declare for the draft. He's a very, very talented kid," Giddey said of Paul, who was the Most Valuable Player at the FIBA U16 Asia Cup 2025.
"He reminds me a lot of myself when I was at that age. He's a big point guard, he loves to get everybody involved, he makes people around him better, so he's got a bright future. But he's still so young, he's got so much time to grow. He'll get stronger, he'll get taller, so he's got a lot of maturing, body-wise, to do. But once he fills out and starts to get a few years older, he's going to be a hell of a pro for a long time."
Giddey said playing in Australia's top flight will be a great thing for Paul.
"He's got a good opportunity to go into the NBL, and as a 17-year-old he's going to be able to learn from pros from day one. So just soaking all that up and taking that in, and he's playing in one of the best leagues in the world as a kid, so he's going to learn from it," he said.
And as far as tips for Paul, Giddey said: "I'd say where he is now, he just needs to continue to make everyone better. That's kind of his strength as a player, and lean into your strengths. He's going to get naturally stronger and more physical as he gets older, but everything I see from him I love, and he's going to be a great pro."
"I love him, I love his game. I think he's got the opportunity to be a really, really good NBA player."
Giddey himself will not be availabe for the Boomers for the up-coming windows but he is confident those playing will get the job done as they face Guam and Philippines in the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2027 Asian Qualifiers in Perth next week.
"Hopefully we take care of these last couple of games. I have never really played in any of these qualifying games but it’s always good seeing the guys in the local league and guys from around the world get to come back together and represent Australia. Whether it's in the major tournaments or these qualifying tournaments, it all plays a big part in the main goal of trying to win medals at these major tournaments."
The Chicago Bulls playmaker cannot wait until the FIBA World Cup next summer in Qatar.
"I've been thinking about it since the last tournament, which was the Olympics two years ago. So I'm always willing and ready to wear the Green and Gold any chance I get. And it just sucks there's such a long gap between every big tournament. I wish it could be every year. But we're all looking forward to it, and I can't wait to get out there and play for Australia again," said Giddey, who averaged 17.5 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists in leading Australia to the Quarter-Finals at the 2024 Olympics.
Giddey believes the Boomers will once again be strong next summer.
"I always like our chances. I think our country's basketball program is as good as it's ever been. We’ve got NBA guys and we've got NBA guys missing the team, which is an awesome problem to have. I'm excited where we're at. At the Olympics we were one win away from making the medal games, so we're right there. We think we're as good as anybody in the world and we can compete with anybody. Hopefully we have a good preparation and get on the podium next year at the World Cup," Giddey said.
Giddey only played in one youth event for Australia - the FIBA U17 Oceania Championship 2019, where he averaged 16.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.0 assists in winning the title.
"That was my first time, before the senior team, playing for Australia, so it was a very cool experience," he said. "That was my first real memory playing for Australia. But nonetheless, it's the same feeling. It’s unbelievable getting presented your first jersey and getting to wear the Green and Gold. That was my first real time, and I loved it."
That competition was the qualifier for the FIBA U18 Asia Cup 2020, which was then cancelled due to the Covid pandemic. That Australia generation played at the FIBA U19 Basketball World Cup 2021, but Giddey was already in preparations for the 2021 NBA Draft and did not play.
Giddey appeared to enjoy calling up those old memories from back in New Caledonia in 2019 while sitting courtside in Istanbul. And all the while thinking about the next FIBA World Cup in Qatar.
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