Brian Goorjian will turn to Patty Mills in a bid to steer the Boomers to a place in Olympic Games history as Australia chase a maiden men's basketball medal.
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The Boomers head coach has named a 24-man squad on the road to Tokyo which he will have to whittle down to 12, with Mills poised to launch a tilt at a fourth Olympic appearance.
Mills and veteran Joe Ingles are both on the verge of competing at their fourth Olympics and headline a Boomers squad brimming with NBA experience.
Ben Simmons is hopeful he can suit up for Australia with the Games to be held in the wake of July's NBA Finals, as the Boomers set their sights on a group stage battle with
The Boomers have been drawn in group B, where they will face Nigeria and two qualifier teams in group B, with Goorjian adamant Mills will play a huge role in seeing Australia deep into the tournament.
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"When I first got the job I had a [video call] with Patty, Joe, Delly [Matthew Dellavedova], [Aron] Baynes and [Andrew] Bogut," Goorjian said.
"I was amazed at their passion, where it had gone from when I was involved 12 years ago to now, how it has grown.
"When you talk about Patty, Patty was the one in that group that I defended, I got the strongest relationship in my time with the Boomers within that group.
"Joe was just a kid and he was on the end of the bench and on my [South] Dragons team, but Patty came in and took the world by storm in that Beijing Olympics.
"He was instrumental in us getting into the eight which we hadn't done in Athens. In our communication in doing the job, Patty was a big piece for me in this happening.
"We have a relationship, he has something he wants to get done in a window and I'm in the same box. I see him as a real ally, not only on the court, but off the court in a leadership role with this Boomer team moving forward."
Meanwhile, Mills' Indigenous Community Basketball Leagues are poised to host opening ceremonies across eight locations from the Torres Strait to NSW, Adelaide, Northern Territory, Queensland and Western Australia on Sunday.
The ICBL aims to provide a pathway for participation and success for the next generation of Aboriginal youths and Torres Strait Islander youths.
Boomers Olympic Games squad: Deng Adel, Aron Baynes, Ryan Broekhoff, Xavier Cooks, Mitch Creek, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Isaac Humphries, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Mitch McCarron, Will McDowell-White, Will Magnay, Thon Maker, Patty Mills, Brock Motum, Mitch Norton, Duop Reath, Ben Simmons, Matisse Thybulle.