Speaking to Megan Hustwatie for TAB Courtside 1v1 on SBS, Broekhoff explained that Olympic glory had long been a major driving force in his basketball career.
“The Olympics was always the ultimate dream. I did a grade five project where I wanted to play professional basketball in the NBA and the Olympics. I also wanted to play for the (Geelong) Cats in the AFL. Two out of three is not bad,” Broekhoff joked.
Growing up, the Melbourne-born Broekhoff dreamed of emulating the likes of Boomers legends Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal who starred for Australia at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.
However, when the 30-year-old sharpshooter finally achieved his dream of Olympic selection at the Rio games in 2016, it didn't go exactly as Broekhoff had imagined as Australia missed out on a historic bronze medal by a single point in a loss to Spain.
“(It was the) Most bittersweet feeling I have as a basketball player,” he said.
“It’s the highest honour that I’ve ever had to represent my country at the Olympics.
“The greatest moment putting on the green and gold by far. But just how close we came to the medal is always attached to that at the moment."
“Hopefully we get the chance to re-write that in Tokyo.”
Although currently a free-agent, Broekhoff was named in a star-studded 24-man Boomers Olympics squad.
The Olympics are set to take place in July 2021, although there are fears the tournament may have to be postponed once again or even cancelled if the coronavirus pandemic continues to wreak havoc across the world.
Broekhoff told Hustwaite that the Olympics will condition his playing future.
“It’s very important to me to be available for the national team,” he said.
“The NBL and Europe are scheduled to finish quite a bit before that which allows for an easy preparation heading into the Olympics.
“The NBA is a little bit more tricky, depending on what team you’re on and how far you go in the playoffs.
“It’s something that I’m letting my agent know is very important to me, to make sure we don’t forget about that when we’re worrying about my professional career. "
Having spent the last two years in the NBA, and prior to that playing in Europe as well as College Basketball in America, Broekhoff says he’s open to a return to Australia.
“Coming to the NBL and being back in Melbourne is something which is always in the back of my mind, and giving back to Australia and being home,” Broekhoff said.
“I left home at the age of 16 and since then I’ve rarely been back - it’s crazy to think that’s almost half my life I’ve been away - so it would be great to play in front of family and friends.
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been home. Most of my family haven’t met my son.
“These things, people might not think about too much, but they’re very important to me.
"I’ve had contact with a few NBL teams over the years but the timing was never right for me.
“Playing in Melbourne would be ideal, just to be close to my family. And have my young family close to my Australian family.
“I’m just ready to get back on the court and play.
“I’m keeping every option open, whether that be back in the NBA, in Europe or even playing in Australia. Thinking about what is best for my family in the long run.”
SBS will again broadcast multiple regular-season NBA games per week in HD on SBS VICELAND and streamed live via SBS On Demand. Plus, every game of the upcoming 2020-21 NBL season will be LIVE, FREE and in HD via SBS On Demand, with select games also live on SBS VICELAND.
