Boomers great Andrew Gaze has broken down recalling his father Lindsay's hand in energising a journey finally capped by men's basketball bronze in Tokyo.
The Boomers ended a painful Olympic drought on Saturday, Patty Mills scoring 42 points as Australia beat Slovenia 107-93 to claim a maiden international men's basketball medal.
The victory came after four losses in Olympic bronze playoffs and another in the 2019 World Cup, capping a dream that Gaze said began with his father in the 1950s.
A player in one and coach of four Olympic campaigns, Lindsay Gaze was among the first basketball administrators when the sport was in its infancy in Australia.
Andrew then played in five Olympic campaigns - he remains the second-highest point scorer in Games history - losing three bronze medal playoffs before Mills led a side that lost by one point to Spain in Rio five years ago.
Part of the commentary team on Channel 7, Gaze broke down as he revealed he'd spoken to his father before the game on Saturday.
"Selfishly, I feel a part of it, to see Patty and the boys (celebrating)," he said.
"In '88, '96, 2000 (finishing fourth), they're beautiful journeys. You don't have to win a medal to have beautiful journeys.
"You feel like you're responsible for some hardships, some devastation (for missing out on a medal in previous Games) but this is all part of the building blocks.
"I think of those that have been along for the journey and have their DNA on it.
"There's so many that toiled, when you don't get a cent, you're building a sport, trying to generate it. I'm so grateful.
"And for all that they (past players, coaches and administrators) have done for the game, it culminates in this reward spectacularly.
"Hopefully, it's not just the basketball community, but the entire nation, now getting behind our sport."
It's unlikely that Mills, who will turn 33 next week, Joe Ingles (33), Aron Baynes (34) and Matthew Dellavedova (30) will all be part of the side if they qualify for the Paris 2024 Games.
But in Josh Green, Dante Exum, Matisse Thybulle and Josh Giddey, there is a new generation blooming.
Mills said the standard had now been set and Gaze said the impact on grassroots basketball in Australia, where the NBL is flourishing after years of struggles, will set the Boomers up.
"To hear Dad talk about what this means for the sport and his humility, nothing to do with him, about just how it's going to be good for Australian basketball, it's a tangible piece of evidence (of Australia's legitimacy)."
