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Ranking the 10 biggest threats to Team USA at 2023 FIBA World Cup

By Holden Walter-Warner

BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 18: Rudy Fernandez of Spain celebrates with teammates while holding The Nikolai Semashko Trophy on the podium following their victory in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 final match between Spain v France at EuroBasket Arena Berlin on September 18, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
BERLIN, GERMANY - SEPTEMBER 18: Rudy Fernandez of Spain celebrates with teammates while holding The Nikolai Semashko Trophy on the podium following their victory in the FIBA EuroBasket 2022 final match between Spain v France at EuroBasket Arena Berlin on September 18, 2022 in Berlin, Germany. (Photo by Maja Hitij/Getty Images) /
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BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Josh Giddey of Australia in action during the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifier match between the Australian Boomers and Hong Kong at Nissan Arena on February 23, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA – FEBRUARY 23: Josh Giddey of Australia in action during the FIBA Asia Cup 2021 Qualifier match between the Australian Boomers and Hong Kong at Nissan Arena on February 23, 2020 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images) /

2. Australia

Australia shows up on the international stage every single time, emerging as a basketball juggernaut. With the tournament taking place close to home, the Aussies could send Team USA to a land down under.

Recent results have been strong for the world’s third-ranked team. They made the semifinals in both the most recent World Cup and the two most recent Olympics. Australia has also won a pair of FIBA Asia Cup titles in the past few years.

Versatility is the name of the game for Australia. They have some of the most springy young guys in the NBA on their squad, while also having players who specialize in invaluable aspects of the game, such as defense and shooting.

The Oklahoma City Thunder are well-represented here. Josh Giddey should be the focal point, do-it-all player to lead the Aussies to glory, but Patty Mills is a long-time stalwart of the national team and will provide veteran leadership; Jack White is there, too.

Jock Landale is a rising depth big man who signed with the Houston Rockets in the offseason. Josh Green is another solid bench cog in the NBA, playing for the Dallas Mavericks. Dante Exum is on the verge of getting back to the NBA, while Matthew Dellavedova only recently left it.

On the defensive specialist side, there’s Matisse Thybulle. On the three-point specialist side, there’s Joe Ingles. And don’t overlook 2022 lottery pick Dyson Daniels, who struggled during his first season in the NBA, but led Australia to a gold medal in the FIBA Oceania U15 Championship in 2018.

There’s a changing of the guard taking place with the Australian national team, which should be in good hands going forward. But this may be the last time some of those vets like Mills and Ingles suit up on the world stage for their country. Expect them to give it their all.