Their dream to win men’s basketball’s first Olympic medal didn’t happen — so what now?

THEY looked set to become our first men’s basketball team to win an Olympic medal. But it wasn’t to be. So what now? Assistant coach Mick Downer shares the Boomers’ journey to international respect.

Mick Downer has been named as an assistant coach of the Brisbane Bullets National Basketball League team. Picture: John Gass

THEY may have missed out on a medal in heartbreaking fashion, but the Boomers captured the hearts of Australians, and indeed basketball fans across the globe.

The Australia’s men’s basketball team finished fourth at the Olympics in Rio, losing 89-88 to Spain in the bronze medal playoff on Monday morning (AEST).

A win would have earned the team Australia’s first men’s basketball Olympic medal but instead the Boomers finished in fourth place for the fourth time and the team’s technical assistant coach, Mick Downer, provided an insight into the feeling of the group after its inspiring campaign.

Rio: a journey of international respect. By Boomers technical assistant coach Mick Downer.

“A bare trophy cabinet, an empty feeling in the gut, but an amazing journey

I’m sure having a medal around our necks and being inked in Australian basketball history as the first men’s team to achieve it (Olympic medal) would feel better than what we feel right now, but somehow the pride we have as a team reduces that feeling from anger and hurt to just numbness.

Mick Downer has been named as an assistant coach of the Brisbane Bullets National Basketball League team. Picture: John Gass

How can you not be proud of what this group has done for basketball back home?

Yes we weren’t perfect and didn’t execute at the end of the game, we’ll relive missed shots, rebounds and all the other aspects of the game that we’d like to of done better.

Hopefully as time passes we can appreciate the great things we were able to achieve.

We set lofty goals, we made big statements and were prepared to sacrifice whatever was needed for the good of our group.

From the past Boomers who shared their journeys with us, to strong leadership by the coach (Andrej Lemanis) and playing group, this journey has been surreal.

Yes we wanted to represent our country with pride, play a brand of basketball that honoured our past teams and the basketball community in Australia.

Rio Olympics 2016. The Men's Australian Basketball team, the Boomers, v. Lithuania at Carioca 1, in Olympic Park Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Australia's Patty Mills [centre] after the game. Picture: Alex Coppel.

We feel we’ve been successful in these areas and this is validated by the overwhelming support we’ve received from everyone on the ground in Rio and back home.

We’ve earned respect from our peers as their commentary towards our style of play, and toughness was received.

We had a theme of living in the moment — I’ll share a quick story.

Not long after our defeat sitting in the official’s lounge staring into space, the USA team arrived with their cast of thousands in tow, but it was their head coach (my coaching idol) Coach Mike Krzyzewski who entered the area.

Under different circumstances I’m sure I would of become a fan and asked for a picture with one of the world’s most successful coaches. Instead we shook hands and he said some complimentary (and genuine) things about our game briefly before moving on.

Strange thing is, I don’t really remember it until a colleague told me.

I was miles away replaying the cruel ending to our game over and over. I can’t even imagine how the boys felt, I’m sure something similar but magnified as they literally fought and bled for the green and gold.

An overview shows Australia's forward Cameron Bairstow (R) go for a rebound past China's forward Zhai Xiaochuan during a Men's round Group A basketball match between China and Australia at the Carioca Arena 1 in Rio de Janeiro on August 12, 2016 during the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. / AFP PHOTO / POOL / Jim YOUNG

Living in the moment, often said, not easy to do but something we tried hard to endure we stayed on course towards our goal. It wasn’t meant to be this time, and it will take a long time to deal with the hurt, but hopefully we’ve taken a huge step toward in world basketball and it’s just a platform for the next step as we continue to chase the first medal.

For everyone who supported and sacrificed you know who you are, thank you sincerely for sharing the journey.”

• Written by Boomers Technical Assistant Coach Mick Downer