Brendan Joyce revealed the Boomers went out of their way to taunt LeBron James whenever he attempted a shot from range at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games.
A star-studded United States side took home the Bronze Medal in a disappointing campaign after finishing fourth in Group B behind the likes of Lithuania, Greece and Puerto Rico.
Joyce, a former assistant coach of the Australian team, says LeBron was sledged by the Boomers bench during their group stage clash, as they didn’t feel shooting was a strength of his at that stage of his career.
“I can tell you when were at the Athens Olympics I was assistant coach,” Joyce told SEN Afternoons.
“Our game plan was to let LeBron shoot and I can tell you when he got the ball right beside us on the bench we were yelling out ‘shoot’, and he was hesitant.
“They lost three games at that Olympics and they just snuck into win the Bronze (medal).
“The reason why the Americans didn’t win that year is because they didn’t have enough shooters and LeBron, who was only 19 years old, went away and worked on his game.”
LeBron would go on to win two Olympic Gold Medals for the USA in 2008 and 2012.
The basketball icon is a three-time NBA champion and has won a swag of individual honours in a decorated career for both club and country.