U.S. will meet Australia on Aug. 22 and Aug. 24.GETTY IMAGES
Melbourne will host two games between Team USA and the Australian Boomers at Etihad Stadium next August, according to Roy Ward of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Basketball Australia and USA Basketball announced the games on Sunday, in what will be the "centrepiece of 2019 FIBA World Cup preparations" ahead of the tournament taking place in China from Aug. 31-Sept. 15. The Boomers "expect to have as many of their NBA players available as possible," led by the Philadelphia 76ers' Ben Simmons and San Antonio Spurs' Patty Mills, while Team USA’s roster "remains uncertain," with players like LeBron James and Kevin Durant missing the last World Cup in Turkey in '14 "leaving then emerging stars James Harden, Kyrie Irving and Stephen Curry to lead their nation to the title." But China is "an enormous market" for players like James, Curry and Harden so "there remains hope" the U.S. will have its "strongest team." The games are scheduled for Aug. 22 and 24 at Etihad Stadium (SMH, 3/18).
