EXCLUSIVE

Australian basketball star Josh Giddey says the Boomers are ready to hit the ground running in their Paris Olympics medal tilt after reuniting in Melbourne this week.

The 21-year-old himself only just returned home after his pre-season break was interrupted by a whirlwind trip to meet the Chicago Bulls following his trade from the Oklahoma City Thunder.

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Having been told he would lose his starting position and instead come off the bench next season, Giddey requested a move and the Thunder granted his wish through a deal with the Bulls.

The trade will see Giddey swap the Western Conference’s No.1 seed for an Eastern Conference side that has made the playoffs just once in the past seven years — and it will also create a new life off the court.

“It’s obviously a big change between cities, especially Oklahoma, small city, to Chicago, a busy city,” Giddey, who was at the Foot Locker store in Melbourne on Friday, told 7NEWS.

“It’s a big change, obviously you’ve got to move. I don’t know anyone in Chicago so it’s brand new start but I’m very happy with it. Very excited.”

Giddey spent a month back in Australia after the Thunder were knocked out of the playoffs prior to being called back to the United States last week.

He spent just 48 hours in Chicago and returned on Thursday.

“It’s been a lot of travel … I got to meet everyone over there, some great people,” Giddey said.

“The fans are awesome, very excited to get there in September and get started.”

The extended Boomers squad will be whittled down to just 12 players in time for a training camp ahead of the Olympics beginning in late July.

They will face China in two games next week in Melbourne before heading to Abu Dhabi to face the USA and Serbia.

“All the guys are back in town now and we start our preparations for the Olympics,” Giddey said.

“It’s just great to be around everyone in Melbourne. It’s been a lot of fun.

“Training went great. We all stay in contact through the NBA season so when we come back it’s not like we haven’t spoken in a while. We’re all pretty on top of it.

“When we come back to Melbourne all together we kind of hit the ground running.

“Day one was great, but it’s day one of a long process. We understand there’s a long way to go but today was a great start and we’re heading in the right direction.”

Ten of the 12 Boomers who won bronze at the Tokyo Olympics three years ago are gunning for selection again.

Giddey missed the cut then but is a lock this time round, having become a team leader at last year’s FIBA World Cup — where the Boomers were knocked out before the quarter-final stage.

“We know the sour taste that the World Cup left in our mouths,” he said.

“To finish the way it did wasn’t good for any of us so we’re very happy to be able to go to Paris now and have a chance to get up on that podium with a gold medal.

“We’ve got a great group of guys, the talent’s as good as it’s ever been in Australian basketball, so we’re excited to get to Paris.”