Boomers at the Olympics: Record, best finish for Australia men’s basketball team | Sporting News Australia

Australia have one of the best men’s basketball teams in the world, with their national team – nicknamed the Boomers – currently ranked 5th globally.

The Australian basketball scene has seen immense improvement in the last decade, with many Aussies now plying their trade in the NBA, and the domestic league the NBL experiencing a surge in popularity.

The Boomers have also been close to ever-present at the Olympics, only failing to appear at five tournaments since the sport was introduced to the Games in 1936.

The Sporting News looks back at how the Boomers have fared at the Olympic Games over the years.

MORE: Complete list of Australian 2024 Olympic athletes

When did the Boomers first compete at the Olympics?

Australia first competed in the men’s basketball competition at the Olympics in 1956, when they qualified as host nation in Melbourne.

They failed to win any pool games, but managed to win twice in the 9th-15th classification section, where they were eventually able to finish 12th.

Boomers record, history, finishes at the Olympics

In the years after 1956, the Boomers found success hard to come by, failing to qualify twice, and failing to qualify for the quarter-finals on two more occasions.

The introduction of the NBL saw a solid crop of players emerge, led by the likes of Andrew Gaze and NBA champion Luc Longley.

This saw the Boomers reach their first-ever bronze medal match at Seoul in 1988, where they were defeated by the United States.

Defeat at the final hurdle before a medal became a recurring theme for the Boomers, as they would fall at the same stage in Atlanta 1996, Sydney 2000 and most heartbreakingly of all in 2016.

Coming up against Spain in the bronze medal match in Rio, the Boomers were moments away from their first-ever medal, but they fell to an agonising defeat in the last seconds of the game as they lost 89-88.

Boomers’ best finish at the Olympics

Australia finally broke their medal drought at the last Olympics in Tokyo, as they defeated Slovenia 107-93 in the bronze-medal match thanks to herculean effort from Patty Mills, who scored 42 points.

It was the Boomers’ best tournament in terms of wins, as they were undefeated until the semi-finals, where they were eventually overhauled by winners USA.

Despite coming up against NBA superstar Luka Doncic, the Slovenians were no match for Mills and his Australian teammates, as they put the hoodoo to bed once and for all.

It caused scenes of great joy back in Australia, with legendary player, coach and pundit Andrew Gaze reduced to tears after the game in describing how much the win meant to the Australian basketball community.

Australia Boomers draw, schedule for Paris Olympics

The Boomers are in Group A alongside Canada, and two winners from the Olympic Qualifying Tournaments taking place in July.

Their first game on 27th July will be against one of these teams, before they face Canada on 30th July.

Their third and final match of the group stage will be against the second qualifying tournament winner.

The gold medal match for the tournament is taking place on 10th August.

Australia Boomers Olympic roster

The final roster of 12-players has not been selected yet, with Australia coach Brian Goorjian currently assessing a group of 17-players who will take part in a training camp in the coming weeks.

Seven of the players are currently contracted to a side in the NBA, with Josh Giddey and Patty Mills being the standouts in the side.