Ever since the stars of the NBA joined the Olympic stage back in 1992, the Boomers have met the United States in Games competition on four occasions. As US coach Mike Krzyzewski noted, the Aussies always play tough against the Americans – when they meet again on Thursday morning Australian time, the Boomers will be hoping that the scoreboard reflects it.

 

1996: US 101, Australia 73
This was a semi-final match in Atlanta, but the most famous incident in Oz-Yank hoops exchanges actually happened before the Games, when Shane Heal and Charles Barkley went at it in an exhibition game. Barkley got his revenge in the semi, not missing from the field and dropping 24 points.

 

2004: US 89, Australia 79
The closest the Boomers have come to the US was in this group stage match in Athens, with young Andrew Bogut acquitting himself well against Tim Duncan. Notably, though, the 2004 US team had a shockingly bad Olympic campaign, losing twice in group and in the semi-final. The terrible showing spurred an entire re-think of the US program, which would begin in 2008.

 

2008: US 116, Australia 85
The Americans knocked out the Boomers in the quarters thanks to a vintage Kobe Bryant (25 points) performance. But the more eye-catching performance was from Australia’s Patty Mills, then still in college at St Mary’s. Speeding past the likes of Chris Paul and Deron Williams, Mills marked himself out as true NBA calibre.

 

2012: US 119, Australia 86
The Boomers found themselves stuck on the Americans’ path of the elimination draw once again in London, with a near-identical result. With their strong start to the Rio Games, the Australians now have a potential draw which would avoid the US until the final – and open up the possibilities for the Boomers’ first ever medal.