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Australia look to Paris Olympics after FIBA World Cup exit

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Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="FIBA: Slovenia punches q" finals="" ticket="" by="" routing="" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2023/sports/09/02/20230902-fibawc_australia_epa.jpg"/><figcaption>Australian players react after losing the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2023 second round match between Slovenia and Australia in Okinawa, Japan, September 1, 2023. <em>Kimimasa Mayama, EPA-EFE.</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>OKINAWA, Japan -- Australia head coach Brian Goorjian said preparation for the Paris Olympics &quot;starts now&quot; after the Boomers were eliminated from the Basketball World Cup by a Luka Doncic-inspired Slovenia on Friday.</p><p>Australia lost 91-80 as the second round got under way in Okinawa in southern Japan, sending them out of the tournament due to Germany&#x27;s win over Georgia in Group K earlier in the day.</p><p>Australia had already clinched a qualifying spot at next year&#x27;s Paris Olympics as the highest-placed Oceania team at the World Cup.</p><p>Goorjian immediately turned his thoughts towards the Games and said he was &quot;excited at where this thing could go&quot;.</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/sports/09/01/23/fiba-slovenia-punches-qfinals-ticket-by-routing-australia">FIBA: Slovenia punches q&#x27;finals ticket by routing Australia</a></li></ul><p>&quot;It starts now, preparation for the Olympics,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;We learned a lot and I think we&#x27;re in the process of change in style of play, both offensively and defensively.&quot;</p><p>Australia won bronze at the pandemic-delayed Tokyo Olympics two years ago, beating Slovenia to reach the podium.</p><p>Goorjian has blooded a host of young players at the World Cup being hosted in Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia, including 20-year-old Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Josh Giddey.</p><p>Giddey was the game&#x27;s top scorer against Slovenia with 25 points, and Goorjian said &quot;the youth of this thing is for real&quot;.</p><p>&quot;Some big decisions are ahead but I like what&#x27;s in front of me,&quot; he said.</p><p>Australia struggled to cope with Doncic, who had 19 points for Slovenia.</p><p>The Dallas Mavericks superstar got into foul trouble but still gave Australia problems in almost 29 minutes on the floor.</p><p>Australia again made a slow start to the game and Goorjian said his team had to &quot;play through some mistakes before it clicks in&quot;.</p><p>&quot;When you get in a game like this and there&#x27;s a lot of pressure, who you are comes out,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;We&#x27;re a step off it right now.&quot;</p><div><strong>© Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div><strong>For more stories on the FIBA World Cup, click <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/fibaworldcup2023" target="_blank">here</a>.</strong><br/> </div><div><strong>RELATED VIDEO</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6WNc1jIDxoA?enablejsapi=1" width="560"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div>

Australia head coach Brian Goorjian said preparation for the Paris Olympics 'starts now' after the Boomers were eliminated from the World Cup.