It took two of the greatest basketballers ever to play at their absolute best to send the Boomers home from the London Olympics.

This is one of so many positives Australia's men's basketballers can take away from a Games campaign which exceeded most people's expectations.

On paper, it was a quarter-final defeat to the eventual gold medallists.

Look closer, and there could be a new golden generation emerging.

Could Patty Mills and Joe Ingles - a revelation in London - usher in a new magical era that Australian men's basketball thought had been and gone with Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal and company more than a decade ago?

The Boomers will probably most enjoy the tell-your-grandkids moment of the night they battled Kobe Bryant and LeBron James.

They went toe-to-toe with the best basketball team on the planet for three quarters, before Bryant and James produced freakishness to lift the US home by a margin not befitting the contest.

Their win over bronze medallists Russia - Mills beating the buzzer with a match-winning three - was also stunning.

Yet perhaps just as good was their second half comeback against Great Britain. Playing poorly and facing elimination, they rallied.

Coach Brett Brown has spoken all campaign of a unique team chemistry.

It was proven when they went on a backs-to-the-wall rampage, outscoring the Brits 70-29 in the second half - Mills tipping in a tournament-high 39 points to turn around a game in rare and stunning fashion.

Mills' sensational Olympics should mean more NBA minutes with the San Antonio Spurs and more profile for him and his sport in Australia.

He has averaged more points per game than any other player in London - 21.2 over his six matches.

More than the likes of US superstar Kevin Durant, Spain's Pau Gasol and free-scoring Argentine veterans Luis Scola and Manu Ginobili.

The 23-year-old was hero-grammed by both Bryant and American coach Mike Krzyzewski among others for his efforts.

"Patty Mills has had one of the outstanding Olympics of any player," Krzyzewski said.

And Bryant: "Patty Mills continues to get better and better. Every time I see him, he continues to improve."

London showed Australia isn't just Andrew Bogut any more.

With Mills, Ingles and his laconic-looking but impressive skills package, the exciting Matt Dellavedova and hard-working centre Aron Baynes, the Boomers have plenty to work with once injured superstar Bogut gets healthy.