ESPN Analyst Praises Josh Giddey With Australia For World Cup

The Oklahoma City Thunder has a few key representatives at the FIBA World Cup, including Josh Giddey leading the Boomers in Australia. ESPN analyst and insider Brian Windhorst is high on Giddey and his potential playing national basketball.

"[Giddey] is at the beginning of a long, successful FIBA career," Windhorst said on The ESPN Aussie Hoops Hour.

At 20-years-old, Giddey has taken a leap from his rookie season to his sophomore season. He's shown rapid growth with the Thunder, and playing with the Boomers allows him to grow as an on-ball leader and commander of the offense.

"I'm a big believer in Josh Giddey. I think he's tremendously talented," Windhorst said. "You talk about not having small guards. Hello, Josh Giddey is 6-foot-8 and can do everything you possibly need to create. He is the ideal FIBA guard."

While playing for Australia, Giddey is going to be able to soak up valuable experience being the main guy for his team. Something he has shown improvement in is his use of his size and physicality.

In the later half of last season, the former No. 6 overall pick began showing his ability to use his size to create mismatches against smaller guard opponents. This will only improve as he plays international basketball, where the rules allow even more physicality.

What Giddey will be able to do with a solid FIBA roster will be indicative of his progression this offseason, and ultimately this experience could help him take the Thunder's ceiling next season through the roof.

Playing alongside other NBA talents in Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Josh Green and others will benefit Giddey in the long run, and the potential he has to succeed in the tournament at such a young age is promising.

All-in-all, the experience and progression Giddey will get from the Tournament will be huge, and it comes at a good time because the Thunder could find themselves playing very meaningful basketball this season, and Giddey's experience playing in meaningful FIBA games will prove to be important.

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