Australian basketball star Josh Giddey sees NBL champion Bryce Cotton as exactly what the Boomers will need in Qatar come the 2027 FIBA World Cup.
The Boomers will likely need to fill a Patty-Mills-shaped hole in their offence, with the Aussies lacking a score-first guard in the legend’s absence.
Between Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum and Jock Landale, the Aussies have a lot of the pieces of the puzzle, but what they lack is the ability to create a shot off the dribble against the best players in the world.
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Patty Mills and Josh Giddey playing for the Boomers in Melbourne, Australia. Getty
Cotton, who has won three straight NBL MVP awards and has six to his name, became an Australian citizen in 2025, making him eligible to represent the nation at the Olympics and World Cup.
It’s been a difficult process for Cotton, who was banned from applying in 2021 for four years due to an administrative error outside of his control.
That ban ultimately cost him any chance of playing in Tokyo or Paris and has left some scars on the 33-year-old, who is naturally now more hesitant about putting his hand up.
With all eyes now on Qatar in 2027 for the World Cup and Los Angeles in 2028 for the Olympics, Giddey said he would love to line up alongside Cotton.
“Bryce being there would be right at the top of the list for guys I’d want in the green and gold. He’s the kind of player that can really give us a different look,” Giddey told Wide World of Sports at the announcement of Nine as the new free-to-air broadcaster of the NBL.
“If you look across the board at the guys we’ve got, we don’t really have someone like Bryce who can be that offensive punch. He’d be awesome for us to have.
Bryce Cotton of the Adelaide 36ers at the Nine x NBL launch. Nine
“If there’s a chance he can play for the Boomers at the World Cup or the Olympics or whatever it is, we’d welcome him with open arms. He’d be unbelievable to have.”
When asked if representing Australia was something he was still interested in after the hiccups that cost him the chance in Tokyo and Paris, Cotton was on the fence.
“Potentially. I’m not as opposed to it as I had been,” Cotton told Wide World of Sports.
“We’ll see what the future holds.”
Mills himself is yet to retire and hasn’t ruled himself out of playing at the 2027 World Cup.
The Australian guard will be 39 come Qatar and is currently playing for La Laguna Tenerife in Spain, after 16 seasons in the NBA.
Josh Giddey of the Chicago Bulls at the Nine x NBL launch Nine
Giddey said the ball remains in Mills, and fellow veteran Joe Ingles’ court, if they want to put their hand up for the Boomers going forward.
“It’s a good question. They’re getting towards the back-end of their career. Who knows. It’s probably more a question for them. They’ve done so much for the country and for the Boomers and we’ve got a great group of young guys who will be able to carry the torch with what they’ve done,” the Chicago Bulls star said.
Another point of fascination in Australian basketball remains Ben Simmons, who stepped away from the NBA this season to focus on getting his body right, while taking up ownership of a professional fishing team in Florida.
Giddey admits he hasn’t spoken to Simmons in regards to the Boomers, but hopes to see him on a court some time in the future.
“From what I understand, he still wants to play. It’s just about getting back healthy. He’s got a big hobby outside of basketball he loves doing (fishing). I’m sure he’s going to come back and play at some point, but I haven’t had a conversation with him about the Boomers, I’m sure it’ll happen down the line,” Giddey said.
Simmons is yet to actually represent the Boomers and he may have left it too late.
Australia currently has over a dozen players in the NBA, with a few others on the periphery, and more on the way in the upcoming draft.
Giddey says the amount of young Aussie talent will make selection incredibly difficult for new Boomers coach Adam Caporn.
“I think the best thing about it is we’re at a point now where NBA guys are on the cusp of making the team. We’ve never had that before in Australia. It used to be if you were in the NBA, you made the team,” Giddey said.
“Now we have guys who are in the NBA, but are not a lock for the team which is an awesome problem for our coaching staff to have. Talent is as good as it’s ever been.
“You only get one chance at these every four years, that’s kind of where we want to get back to.”
When Giddey landed in Australia on Wednesday morning, the first thing he saw was the news that Chicago Bulls coach Billy Donovan was stepping away from the organisation.
Head coach Billy Donovan of the Chicago Bulls talks with Josh Giddey. Getty
Chicago has made sweeping changes to its front office in the last year, but wanted the veteran coach to remain with the team.
However, he has made the call to depart after six seasons and the team missing the playoffs once again.
When asked if he was surprised by Donovan’s call, Giddey said “yes and no”.
“Ownership came out publicly and they backed him, but Billy made his own decision,” Giddey said.
“I loved him. I wish he could have been here and stayed. I’ve had nothing but good things to say about Billy. I’ve loved my time with him and wish he could be there long term.
“It’s part of the business we’re in. I wish him all the best. I’ll speak to him soon. Whatever’s next for him, he’s a hall of fame coach so he’ll be loved wherever he goes.”
Chicago won just 31 games and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference this season.
Before the trade deadline, they traded away key players including centre Nikola Vucevic and talented young guards Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White.
Dyson Daniels (L) and Josh Giddey (R) embrace after the game. NBAE via Getty Images
Giddey, who led the team in points, rebounds and assists per game this season, admits the Bulls lost a lot of momentum after the trades.
“I think early on in the year we looked really good and I thought the team we had was a playoff calibre team and then obviously at the trade deadline and we had something like eight new players or eight guys left,” Giddey said.
“It was a massive change for all of us and we kind of had a mini camp in the middle of the year trying to integrate all these new players into the team. A lot of moving parts this year.
“Our general manger and president, they got let go, our head coach just stepped down, so it’s been a whirlwind 12 months.
“Hopefully next year we’re back in the playoffs and give these fans something to cheer for.”
The NBL has a new free-to-air home on Nine from next season, with the league set to air in primetime on Saturday nights.
Cotton believes the league has earned the spotlight.
Bryce Cotton of the 36ers and Kendric Davis of the Sydney Kings during the NBL Grand Final series. Getty
“It’s an amazing step. Obviously the league has been growing year after year,” he said.
“We have the respect in the basketball community around the world and I feel like the stars are aligning for this league and we’re getting the exposure we’ve earned.
“The level of players that stay in this league or come to this league, it gives that level of credibility to the league even more.
“Even the guys who have never played in the NBA, that melting pot is such a good combination.”
Giddey is also excited about what’s to come for the growing league.
“It’s awesome. The league obviously grows and grows and eyeballs on the league is going up and up and for them to get this Channel Nine deal in a primetime slot on a Saturday night is unbelievable and it’s only going to attract more people to watch this league,” he said.
“Having guys like Bryce Cotton and those calibre of players can only attract more people to tune into this league. I’m super happy for the NBL. They’ve worked so hard to get the league to where it is today and I’m glad a lot more people around Australia are starting to catch onto how well the NBL is going.”