“I’ve got to step into a bigger role than I’m used to. I think I had a really good campaign at the last Olympics, but I watched that guy back, and I think I’ve taken massive steps since then.

Loading

“Being able to step into a bigger role, helping Gidds, Patty and Josh Green to get some easy looks, or if they call on me, to score – I’m ready for whatever.”

Goorjian made tough calls on Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes before last year’s World Cup. He and team management, including high-performance boss Jason Smith, have made it clear in player meetings they want the team’s leadership handover on and off court to be smooth.

Mills, a long-time starter, and Ingles, who came off the bench at the World Cup, have both been told that “Father Time’s approaching”.

“It was a tough lesson to learn [at the World Cup], so I think there is an appreciation [that] we have got to be better defensively and we have got to be faster and have speed in our transition game. Our young guys are much more effective in that than our older guys. We have to play that way,” Smith said.

“I think there is a better understanding of the way we need to play, and an appreciation of who can do that.

“Don’t get me wrong, wisdom, experience, tough shot-making, is crucial. But, in general, our style needs to be faster, we need to be better defenders, and we need to hit shots. That’s a combination of guys that have been there before and then the youth.”

Chasing Olympic selection for the third time, Melbourne United captain Chris Goulding, 35, conceded the coaches had a huge task to bring the younger, largely NBA-based group together.

“It’s not Joe and Patty’s job – it’s everyone’s job to come together and figure out whatever way forward is best to try to win games, and what is going to hold us in the best stead for the next World Cup, the next Olympics, when I certainly won’t be there, I can say that now,” Goulding said.

“It is really an interesting and exciting time in Australian basketball. Hence, why I touch on how difficult a job the coaches have.

“I know there are conversations, there are meetings with everyone; Josh [Giddey], the young guys, Jock [Landale], Joe, Patty, Goorj, they meet all the time and try and hash it out. It’s not just we come together for two weeks and see how it goes.

Loading

“I am not privy to a lot of conversations. It’s more [for me]; come to camp, show up, put my stamp on it.

“There is a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make sure this thing is successful.”

Boomers 17-man squad: Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Will Magnay, Jack McVeigh, Patty Mills, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Dejan Vasiljevic, Jack White.

News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.