Matthew Dellavedova's bet has paid off and now he hopes his second NBA coming will deliver World Cup gold.
The point guard, a key piece in the Cleveland Cavaliers' 2016 NBA championship, has long been a back court staple alongside Patty Mills on the Boomers' quest for a maiden international medal.
But after rarely being subbed in fourth-placed finishes in the previous World Cup and Olympic campaigns, Dellavedova only played two-and-a-half minutes when they finally clinched a Games bronze in Tokyo last year.
Australia could boast their deepest ever squad at next year's Cup, with Ben Simmons a chance to feature in his first major tournament and next generation talents Josh Giddey, Josh Green and Dyson Daniels flourishing in the NBA this season.
Those additions could shunt Dellavedova down the pecking order but the 32-year-old, after an NBL season with Melbourne, is back there too with the Sacramento Kings and not finished yet.
"It was always my goal to come back," he told AAP.
"I wasn't sure if I was going to get an opportunity to go for it, then coach (Mike) Brown called me and asked if I wanted to work out with the guys in Vegas in July.
"Did that, then it was, 'Do you want to come to training camp?'
"And then I had a decision to make: bet on myself to make the team, or go back to a guaranteed situation, where I know everyone and had a great time last year.
"But I knew I had to go for it and I'm glad it worked out."
Brown coached Dellavedova as a rookie in Cleveland and is now at the helm of a side seeking an end to a 16-year playoff drought.
His is a veteran's role in occasional bench cameos behind stars De'Aaron Fox and Harrison Barnes but Dellavedova's impact has been noted in a 13-9 season, two wins clear of the Golden State Warriors in fifth despite a 0-4 start.
Fit again after injuries took their toll in his first nine-year NBA stint, Dellavedova is already thinking about next year's Cup to be co-hosted by Japan, the Philippines and Indonesia.
"Anytime you're at a Boomers camp and there's selection for a World Cup or Olympics the competition is always fierce," Dellavedova said of the fight for squad selection.
"I've been on both sides of that before when I was younger; it's always tough and physical, probably the most physical basketball you'll ever play is at a Boomers camp.
"The goal is definitely to win a gold medal.
"Winning bronze at the Olympics was awesome to get the men's Boomers first medal, but we're all hungry for more and we believe we can play and beat anyone.
"We've got some exciting young guys coming through that I know are pumped to play for the Boomers like Giddey, Daniels and Ben and it's great to see him back healthy as well. So it's gonna be fun."
