“They've never played together" - Josh Giddey likes Australia's chances in a possible matchup against Team USA

With the 2024 Olympics about to start, many eyes will be on the U.S. men's national basketball team . The team is definitely eyeing a gold-medal finish and looking to reassert its dominance in international hoops. It will be a tall task for the Red, White, and Blue, as other nations have grown in talent and aren't intimidated by them anymore.

Take Josh Giddey , for example. The Australian guard recently responded confidently when asked about the challenge of beating the international powerhouse.

"If you look on paper, obviously they're the most talented team," Giddey said. "It's not a secret to anybody. But I think the difference is these guys have been thrown, they've never played together, whereas a lot of these other countries have had a core that's been together for years."

The Americans' struggles

Talent for talent, no other country can match up well against Team USA, for sure. However, as Giddey pointed out, a possible weakness for the Red, White, and Blue is that the players have had little time to develop chemistry and learn to play with one another on the court.

Their two most recent performances in the USA Basketball Showcase should serve as a warning for the squad as it prepares for the Olympics. The U.S. won by just one point against South Sudan, arguably the least-ranked team participating in the Paris Games. Then, in the following contest, it also barely got by Germany.

There was a time when it was unheard of for Team USA not to clobber its foes. But the seasons have changed, and winning against the star-studded unit isn't the expected outcome anymore.

Australia's golden aspirations

The Boomers are coming off their best performance in an Olympic tournament three years ago. They secured an international medal for the first time, bringing home the bronze.

Australia has continued to look formidable this year, even nearly defeating Team USA in an exhibition game earlier this month. The result led to Devin Booker urging his teammates to clean things up quickly if they want to clinch the gold in Paris.

A furious rally from the Aussies in the fourth quarter helped erase a 24-point deficit, although the Americans were able to eke out the 98-92 victory. Giddey finished that contest with 17 points, eight rebounds, and seven assists.

A rematch could be waiting in Paris, although the Boomers will have their hands full in the preliminary round. They are grouped with Canada, Greece, and Spain, so an early elimination before the knockout stage is a strong possibility for Giddey and the company.

Related: Nick Wright says LeBron James is the best player on Team USA: "I think his teammates think it"