Popovich said that Australia is the top contender of the World Cup

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Australia is one of the strongest teams in the upcoming World Cup in China.

This is the observation of the NBA's San Antonio Spurs veteran coach Gregg Popovich who will also take on Team USA.

Popovich said Australia has the potential to jump into the championship in what it saw in tune-up games against other countries held in Melbourne this week.

"They are one of the teams that can win the whole thing, without a doubt," Popovich said on nba.com. “I'm not saying that because I'm here (in Melbourne). It’s just a fact. ”

Team USA, the no. 1 squad in the Fiba rankings, will defend their title for the third straight time at the World Cup 2019 beginning next month.

This is despite many NBA superstars backing the team like James Harden, Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard. Instead, talented young people are made up of defending champions.

After they dropped the no. Spain, 90-81, in a tuneup game in Anaheim, California, Team USA yesterday arrived in Melbourne for another tune up series.

They will face the Australian Boomers today and then Canada this Saturday (Sunday in the Philippines) in Sydney for their final warm-up.

Australia has yet to make it to the World Cup but Popovich believes it is possible this year.

“They've been close for several years, and they're hungry. They are talented. Coach (Andrej) Lemanis does a good job, and they are a team, ”he said on the USA basketball website.

Leading the Australian Boomers are NBA stars including Joe English of the Utah Jazz and Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs.