Australian basketball will stare down Father Time after confirmation that 43-year-old Opals star Lauren Jackson and veteran Boomers guard Matthew Dellavedova will play in France.
Create a free account to read this article
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The pair were confirmed on Sunday for this month's Olympics, four-time medallist Jackson's return coming after she had retired with debilitating knee soreness ahead of the 2016 Games.
She made a tentative return in 2022 and announced her international retirement after winning World Cup bronze.
A partial achilles tear last year was surely the final nail for the Hall of Fame member and three-time WNBA MVP.
But the 2012 Australian flag bearer will add another chapter to an incredible career, Jackson fully fit and again a centrepiece of the world No.3's assault on four-time defending Olympic champions USA.
It's the fourth longest gap between Games appearances in Australian Olympic history, Jackson joining Andrew Gaze and current Boomers Patty Mills and Joe Ingles as Australia's only five-time basketball representatives.
Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has also leaned into experience by selecting that pair, as well as three-time Olympian Dellavedova despite dumping him from the side for the last World Cup.
Dellavedova was used sparingly when Australia beat Slovenia to win bronze at the Tokyo Games, elite NBA defender Matisse Thybulle instead helping contain star man Luka Doncic to win a historic medal.
Goorjian told AAP in March that "Father Time's approaching and there's going to be a battle there" when he didn't assure any player a spot on the plane.
But the mentor will take Dellavedova, 33, and not Thybulle (27), where pool match-ups in Lille with a stacked Canada and potentially Spain and Giannis Antetokounmpo's Greece await.
Two-time Olympian Chris Goulding was also cut despite strong form in the recent trial games, so too Xavier Cooks despite being among the Boomers' best at the World Cup.
Jack McVeigh, Dyson Daniels, Josh Giddey and Will Magnay will all make Games debuts.
"To be part of the Boomers legacy, well it's everything," 21-year-old Giddey said.
"We have a really great group, we know what we need to do and we are just ready to get into it."
Cayla George and Marianna Tolo will play at their third Games while captain Tess Madgen, Rebecca Allen, Ezi Magbegor, Alanna Smith and Steph Talbot return for their second.
Kristy Wallace, Sami Whitcomb - an unlucky Tokyo omission - Jade Melbourne and Isobel Borlase all make their Olympic debut.
The Opals will play host-nation France (No.7), Canada (No.5) and Nigeria (12) in pool stages, to be held at Pierre Mauroy Stadium in Lille before finals move to Paris.
"We are much more than a team, we are a sisterhood and we carry with us all the Opals from the past and we draw on their strength," Madgen said.
"Every time I put on the green and gold it gives me goosebumps, it's hard to really put into words what it means.
"We are all so grateful to be here and make no mistake we are very hungry so bring on Paris."
Australia's Gangurrus will play every team in the eight-strong women's 3x3 field after winning a historic first berth.
AUSTRALIAN OLYMPIC BASKETBALL SQUADS
Opals: Rebecca Allen, Kristy Wallace, Marianna Tolo, Sami Whitcomb, Stephanie Talbot, Jade Melbourne, Ezi Magbegor, Cayla George, Alanna Smith, Isobel Borlase, Lauren Jackson, Tess Madgen.
Boomers: Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Josh Green, Patty Mills, Dante Exum, Jock Landale, Duop Reath, Joe Ingles, Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay, Matthew Dellavedova, Nicholas Kay.
Gangurrus (3x3 women): Anneli Maley, Lauren Mansfield, Alex Wilson, Marena Whittle.
Australian Associated Press
