Painful Olympic question reduces Josh Giddey to tears

by Admin
August 6, 2024

Australian Boomers star Josh Giddey has broken down in tears after a heartbreaking Olympic quarter-final loss to Serbia in overtime.

The rising heir apparent for veteran Aussie point guard Patty Mills, Giddey said it hurt to send the Boomers legend out of what will likely be his last Games without a medal.

“He deserved better; he deserved for us to help him get that ultimate goal of gold,” Giddey said of Mills, who will turn 36 on Sunday.

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“Whether it’s his last or not, he’s poured so much into this program.

“Talk about ‘FIBA Patty’, one of the greatest to ever do it in these tournaments. We’re very, very lucky to play with him.”

Giddey became emotional when speaking about the missed opportunity, having opened up a lead as big as 24 points at one stage in the game.

“We put ourselves in a great position to win that game. And we come up short like that in overtime. So, it’s heartbreaking,” he said, fighting back tears.

“And it kills me that I have to wait four more years for another chance at this. But, man, I’m so proud of this group. I love this team. And you know, our coaches, our fans, deserved a lot better than this.

Josh Giddey can’t hide his frustration after Australia’s Olympic quarter-final defeat to Serbia. Credit: AAP

“I don’t really know how to sum it up now. It’s so raw and soon after the game. But you know, I just I love this team. And I believed we had the group to go all the way.

“We’ve got to wait another four years and this feeling sucks and it’s going to hurt but you know, it’s going to build us. And we’ll be back in LA (2028 Olympics).”

Giddey was brilliant at times in Australia’s 95-90 overtime loss, scoring 25 points to go with five rebounds and four assists.

But the 21-year-old point guard was left to rue seven turnovers, Australia’s 20 in total costing them as the world’s No.2 side recovered to set up a likely semi-final date with United States.

Giddey had hit a triple to put Australia up by three in overtime, but those were the last points the Boomers’ scored.

Reigning NBA MVP Nikola Jokic had the final say, swatting away a Giddey drive and scoring four straight points, while Giddey’s intercepted inbound pass sealed the result.

“We had everything we needed in this locker room to win a tournament like this and I still believe that,” Giddey said.

“It comes down to one or two possessions and shows how little room for error there is.

“A big lead … I don’t think we weathered the storm. A lot of what-ifs.

“The reality is it’s over. But it’s a tough pill to swallow knowing we have to wait four years til the next one.”

The quarter-final loss could be the last for a number of Boomers including skipper Patty Mills. Credit: AAP

Mills (26 points) was the spark-plug for their early advantage, scoring 16 points in less than four minutes with an array of mid-range jumpers, triples and drives to the rim.

He then returned to make a tough shot to force overtime, Mills famously leading the Boomers to Tokyo bronze again proving he grows in stature while wearing green and gold.

Mills, and coach Brian Goorjian, who will also finish as Australia coach, effectively handed the key to Giddey post-game.

Giddey said the young core that includes Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum and Jock Landale will target LA’s 2028 Games.

“I want to go to as many as I can … tough way to end this one but fortunately I’m 21 years old, I’ve got a lot of years left in the tank,” he said.

“2028 in LA we’ll be ready to go, (I’ll be) 25, we’ll be a lot more mature.

“It hurts now, but it’ll help in the long run.”

– With AAP