Boomers coach Brian Goorjian says his team is on the right track for the 2024 Olympics, despite the failure at this year’s World Cup.
Australia’s 10th-placed finish came despite a squad of nine NBA players and a bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics just two years ago.
Goorjian failed to steer the Boomers out of the group stage with what was widely regarded as Australia’s best squad ever assembled.
But the 70-year-old coach sees the campaign differently,
“When I finished that (Olympic) campaign, I knew that when I re-signed… that the big word was 'change', that there would be a lot of change and it’s not going to be a continuation of (the) Gold (era),” he told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“We introduced six new players to this. The top-end guys are moving out but a lot of excitement with what’s coming in and a lot of talent coming in.
“The bottom line in this campaign is we came into it still with the same goal of the gold medal but I always knew with the change that there would be challenges in a lot of areas.”
In the World Cup, the Boomers featured five new major pieces. It was Josh Giddey’s team in Japan while Xavier Cooks, Jack White, Josh Green and Duop Keath all had big roles.
Goorjian doesn’t feel as if his side has been treated fairly in regard to its lack of time together.
“It’s repetition and repetition is time and if you said to me what’s the major element missing here in the criticism it’s time,” he added.
“The rotations weren't (as) tight, the offence at times was (wasn't perfect) but when you put the whole thing together, we lost to Germany, who sit one game from winning it, and we lost to them by a basket and (if we win) we finished first in our pool.”
With all the attention turning to next year’s Olympics in July and August, Goorjian suggested he holds an air of confidence for the tournament.
The 2022 Tokyo bronze was Australia’s first Olympic medal in men’s basketball.