Patrick, who was born in Bermuda but raised in Melbourne, developed through the Victorian system and was a part of the Australian side heading into the FIBA 22 and under world championships in Melbourne in 1997.

The side beat Puerto Rico in the gold medal game in front of a big crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

‘‘I didn’t have all my Australian papers in in time to play – I played all the preliminary games and then couldn’t play with them,’’ he said.

‘‘Growing up playing with [Aaron] Trahair, [Glen] Saville, Sammy Mac [Mackinnon] and [Chris] Anstey – they all had great careers, and not only professionally but for Australia, so to be a part of that meant a lot.

‘‘It was [a blow]. When you are that young, it’s tough to not be able to play but, at the same time, I’m the only one from that crew to come to college and I ended up at Syracuse, so I was playing there as they were winning gold.’’

Patrick’s work as an assistant coach has seen him either recruit or form bonds with the likes of Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova.

‘‘I’ve coached a lot of the guys on the team like Ben [Simmons], Patty, Delly,’’ he said. ‘‘So I think it might have made sense to them to bring in someone who not only coaches in the States but has experience coaching some of those guys.’’

I think it might have made sense to them to bring in someone who not only coaches in the States but has experience coaching some of those guys.

David Patrick

Patrick formed a close bond with the Simmons family after playing with Dave Simmons at Melbourne Tigers in the NBL. He is godfather to NBA all-star Ben Simmons.

Patrick was also an assistant coach at Louisiana State University when Simmons chose to play his lone college season at the school.

‘‘It is nice to be there with Ben ... but I didn’t want that to be the only reason I was on the staff,’’ Patrick said.

‘‘When I coach him or get on him, it’s from the right place and will be no different to Drej [Andrej Lemanis] or the other coaches.’’

Patrick looks forward to again working with Mills and Dellavedova, his last stint with them was during their college careers at St Mary’s although he recognises much has changed between now and then.

‘‘To see those kids at 16 or 17 and come to the states and then come through the national team then flourish in the NBA has been fantastic to watch,’’ Patrick said.

‘‘Now to coach them again, maybe they will be coaching me now. They are among the hardest workers I’ve ever coached.’’

Patrick’s path through college basketball has seen a host of young Australians play at his various schools and Riverside, whom he thanked for allowing him to spend time with the Boomers, currently have three Australians and have New Zealand players soon to join them.

So Patrick still gets to come back to Australia several times a year and he looks forward to every visit.

‘‘I’m fortunate that I get back at lot,’’ Patrick said.

‘‘I make sure I get time to recruit, watch the footy and then get back on the plane to come home.’’

But when he flies home to join the Boomers for their camp and Team USA series in August, then the World Cup in September – Patrick hopes to complete some unfinished business and take home a medal.