PARIS OLYMPICS 2024: Brian Goorjian quits Australian Boomers after 95-90 finals loss to Serbia.

Australian basketball coach Brian Goorjian has quit after the Boomers suffered a heartbreaking loss to Serbia in the Olympic quarterfinals overnight.

The Boomers led by 24 points in the first half before Serbia, led by NBA superstar Nikola Jokic stormed home to make Olympic history with the biggest come-from-behind win. The Serbians won 95-90 in overtime after scores were level 82-82 at fulltime.

The chaotic finish to regulation time saw Serbia call for a timeout despite having none remaining, meaning they should have been assessed for a delay of game technical foul under FIBA rules. It robbed the Boomers of a final chance at winning the game.

“I think I’ve been an important piece of this process and it’s time to move away,” Goorjian told the ABC.

“When I get off the plane, I’ll walk away feeling proud of my contribution over my 16 years I’ve been with the Boomers.

“I like the culture, I like where the team’s at. I like the group I’ve finished with, and I like the group I’ve left moving forward with.”

The 71-year-old, who will now take over NBL side Sydney Kings, said he was happy to pass the torch to the next generation in what was “a really exciting time for Australian basketball”.

“I said this going into the (world cup), it’s not an extension of (bronze in Tokyo), that thing was maxed out, now you’re on a new journey,” he said.

“These guys get their first taste of this and we compete like we did in this tournament, I think the future is bright and I don’t think we’ve lost much.”

Assistant coaches Matt Nielsen and Adam Caporn shape as major contenders for the vacancy.

Earlier Josh Giddey said Patty Mills deserved better after the loss.

Giddey was brilliant at times, scoring 25 points to go with five rebounds and four assists.

But the 21-year-old point guard was left to rue seven turnovers, Australia’s 20 in total costing them as the world’s No.2 side recovered to set up a likely semi-final date with United States.

Giddey had hit a triple to put Australia up by three in overtime, but those were the last points the Boomers’ scored.

Reigning NBA MVP Jokic had the final say, swatting away a Giddey drive and scoring four straight points, while Giddey’s intercepted inbound pass sealed the result.

“We had everything we needed in this locker room to win a tournament like this and I still believe that,” Giddey said.

“It comes down to one or two possessions and shows how little room for error there is.

“A big lead ... I don’t think we weathered the storm. A lot of what-ifs.

“The reality is it’s over. But it’s a tough pill to swallow knowing we have to wait four years til the next one.”

Mills (26 points) was the spark-plug for their early advantage, scoring 16 points in less than four minutes with an array of mid-range jumpers, triples and drives to the rim.

He then returned to make a tough shot over Jokic to force overtime, Mills famously leading the Boomers to Tokyo bronze again proving he grows in stature while wearing green and gold.

“He deserved better; he deserved for us to help him get that ultimate goal of gold,” Giddey said of the man who’ll turn 36 on Sunday.

“Whether it’s his last or not, he’s poured so much into this program.

“Talk about ‘FIBA Patty’, one of the greatest to ever do it in these tournaments. We’re very, very lucky to play with him.”

Giddey said the young core of the Boomers that includes Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, Dante Exum and Jock Landale will target LA’s 2028 Games with Mills playing at his last Olympics..

“I want to go to as many as I can ... tough way to end this one but fortunately I’m 21 years old, I’ve got a lot of years left in the tank,” he said.

“2028 in LA we’ll be ready to go, (I’ll be) 25, we’ll be a lot more mature.

“It hurts now, but it’ll help in the long run.”