It is hard not to feel a sense of déjà vu. Australia’s men’s basketball team have been here before – and it has never ended well.
Since 1976, the Boomers have progressed to the quarter-finals or further at every Games but one (Athens 2004). In 1988, 1996, 2000 and 2016, Australia made it to the semi-finals. On each occasion, they have lost – to Yugoslavia, the United States, France and Serbia respectively.
After this latest semi-final heartbreak, the Boomers have had to regroup for the bronze medal clash. At every attempt, the team has fallen short. Time after time, Australia’s medal hopes have been dashed – by the United States (by 29 points), Lithuania (six points), Lithuania again (18 points) and most recently Spain, by just one point after a late foul call in Rio.
And so, we are here again. On Saturday night the Boomers face Slovenia in yet another bronze medal match, after yet another emotional semi-final defeat. Will this time be different? Brian Goorjian, the Boomers coach and a legendary figure in Australian basketball, has no doubts. Asked about overcoming past demons to win bronze, Goorjian’s passion spoke volumes.
“If you can’t handle disappointment, don’t be involved in sport,” he said in an emotional monologue following Thursday’s loss to Team USA. “Don’t feel sorry for yourself. It’s a new day. Are you serious about being in the top four in this world, in these Games, and have an opportunity to step to the plate and have a swim at something? And you’re going to hang your head?
“Lithuania is not here,” Goorjian continued. “Serbia is not here – the best teams in the world. We get to go up and pull the bat back and step to the plate and take a swing. What a great opportunity. I’m not going to cry, I’m not going to feel sorry, I’m not going to think about past demons. I’m excited. I was excited about [Thursday], I’m going to be more excited [on Saturday], and I know my team will be.”
Standing between the Boomers and a bronze medal is Slovenia. While the nation is making its Olympic basketball debut, they arrived in Tokyo with Luka Dončić – arguably the best player at the tournament. The NBA star has averaged near a triple-double each game; he even hit a remarkable 48 points against Argentina in the group stage. While Dončić’s efforts were not enough to help Slovenia overcome France in the other semi-final – losing by one point – he will be the danger man in the bronze medal encounter.
“There’s a similar challenge to what we had against Team USA,” Goorjian said on Friday, having had a day to reflect on the loss to the Americans. “You’re playing against the best player in the tournament, with Kevin Durant or Luka. I don’t think we handled the Durant situation, which really caused us problems. When we had a chance to really put a stamp on the game, we didn’t handle him. Tomorrow the challenge is how we defend Luka and slow him down.”
If there is any upside for Australia from Slovenia’s defeat, it was the physicality of their clash with France. Dončić was seen wearing an ice pack on his left wrist after the match and yelling “Fiba happened” in the mixed zone [a reference to basketball’s governing body and the presumed difference in refereeing attitudes towards physical contact, compared with the NBA].
If the Australians are to contain Dončić and take down the Slovenians, they will need big performances from a number of newer stars. New San Antonio Spurs signing Jock Landale, 76ers small forward Matisse Thybulle and former top five draft pick Dante Exum all showed against the United States why they are the future of the Boomers. They will need to step up again on Saturday.
The older guard, meanwhile, will be hoping for a better showing in what might be their last international game together. Patty Mills experienced an afternoon of lacklustre shooting on Thursday, Matthew Dellavedova struggled to find creative spark and Joe Ingles – despite shooting 60% from the floor – only managed nine points. With the trio all in their 30s, it is unlikely they will be the core of this team come Paris.
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Mills, Ingles, Dellavedova – along with the likes of Aron Baynes (injured in the group stage) and Andrew Bogut (recently retired) – have been at the heart of golden generation for Australian men’s basketball, but they have never vindicated their ability with an international triumph. A bronze medal on Saturday would be just rewards for over a decade of commitment to the national team cause.
“[We have] a proud tradition of basketball,” Goorjian mused following the semi-final loss. “But we’ve never medalled – ever medalled For us right now it’s wipe it, get up in the morning, wash your face, and get ready for this next one.”
The next generation are equally committed, if somewhat less lyrical. “There’ll be some guys hurting right now,” said Landale. “It’s our jobs to pick them up and make sure they realise that we have one more game [on Saturday] and we can fucking make history.”
