Nielson named Australian Basketball captain

Matt Nielson will be Australian team's captian (Photo credit: CFP)Photo Gallery>>(BEIJING, July 25) -- Matt Nielson has been named captain of the Australian Olympic Men's Basketball team after confirming his eligibility to compete in Beijing.

Nielson is one of Australia's best basketball players. The team, with its newly appointed captain and a number of strong players like Milwaukee Bucks centre Andrew Bogut, European stand-out Dave Andersen and veteran Chris Anstey, will not be an easy opponent in the Olympic tournament.

Nielson is honored to be picked as captain and is eager to fulfill his role and contribute to the team. "It's something I take pretty seriously," he said.

Australia will play in the same group as defending Olympic gold-medalist Argentina during the preliminary round of the Beijing Olympics. Croatia, Iran, Lithuania and Russia round out the group.