Gregg Popovich, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown give their thoughts on playing in Australia against an experienced Boomers squad. (0:41)
Associated Press
MELBOURNE, Australia -- Team USA coach Gregg Popovich sees Australia as a title threat at the upcoming World Cup in China.
He'll soon find out how much of a threat when the teams meet Thursday in the first of two exhibition games in Melbourne. A record Australian basketball crowd of 50,000 is expected for the match at Marvel Stadium. The second game is set for Saturday.
"Huge, huge threat,'' Popovich said of the Boomers on Tuesday. "They are one of the teams that can win the whole thing, without a doubt. I'm not saying that because I'm here. It's just a fact.
"They've been close for several years, and they are hungry. They are talented. They have the toughness and physicality to go with it. I think they are one of the top contenders without a doubt.''
Australia, led byPatty Mills, who is coached by Popovich atSan Antonio, lost the bronze medal final at the 2016 Olympics to Spain.
The U.S. team is thin on superstars, with onlyKemba Walker,Khris MiddletonandBrook Lopezcombining for five NBA All-Star appearances in comparison to their last Olympics squad, which had 33.
But Walker, who last month joinedBostonafter eight seasons inCharlotte, said criticism of the U.S. team was spurring its players on ahead of its title defense in China.
"We don't care. We want to be here and are putting in the time to be here and we definitely take that as motivation,'' Walker said Wednesday. "We have a bunch of guys who don't mind being the underdogs. We are hungry, and we are going to go out there to try and win a gold medal.''
Walker said he,Utah JazzstarDonovan Mitchelland Celtics guardMarcus Smartwould share the captaincy duties as part of a leadership group.
"I take pride in being a leader and guys looking to me and I'm here to set the tempo and bring my experience and energy,'' he said.
Australia, meanwhile, hopes to end 55 years of losses against the U.S. The Americans have won all 25 games against Australia since 1964.
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