Xavier Cooks admits his Olympic omission initially left him "salty" but holds no grudge against Brian Goorjian as they join forces to revitalise the NBL's Sydney Kings.
Goorjian made the controversial decision to cut Cooks, sharp-shooter Chris Goulding and defensive ace Matisse Thybulle from his final squad for the Paris Games, though keeping ageing guards Matthew Dellavedova and Joe Ingles on the plane to Paris.
The selection calls largely misfired as the Boomers' high hopes for Olympic glory ended with an overtime loss to Serbia in the quarter-finals.
Cooks watched powerless from his living room in Sydney, having previously also missed out on the final squad for the Tokyo Games.
"Dealing with the initial news (of the omission) sucked, either way it's always going to suck, it's a tough thing to deal with," Cooks told AAP.
"But at the same time, it's life.
"Maybe the first week I was a bit salty and shocked, all that kind of thing, and then life moves on, and from there I was the biggest cheerleader from home, texting the boys who played well, encouraging them, still trying to be involved with the boys."
Goorjian has since stepped down from his role with the Boomers as planned, almost four years after he replaced Brett Brown for a second stint leading the national team.
The six-time NBL championship-winning coach now begins another second stint, joining former side the Kings as they look to recover from a a disappointing season under Mahmoud Abdelfattah that ended with a play-in defeat.
Goorjian helped get Cooks' return to the Kings over the line after the former NBL MVP missed last season, playing for the NBA's Washington Wizards and then Japanese club Chiba Jets Funabashi.
Despite the initial pain of his Olympic omission, Cooks said there was no hatchet to bury when Goorjian arrived back at the Kings for pre-season earlier this month.
"If you know me personally, I'm very easygoing, never a negative kind of guy. I don't really hold any grudges," he said.
"I see it as a business move. He thought the best option available was another path and I get that. I see how it is and that chapter is done.
"We're here with the Sydney Kings to get another championship."
Cooks made a point of watching every Kings game during his season away, even as the team struggled for the defensive resolve that had won them the previous two championships.
"It was tough, just because I've always felt a part of the Sydney Kings and to be defenceless on the sidelines over in Japan, not being able to help, sucked," he said.
The return of Cooks and the signings of Izayah Le'Afa and Bul Kuol look set to reinvigorate the Kings' defence after the side leaked the second-most points of any side last season.
"Judging by the first two weeks of practice, the boys are really getting after it on both ends but especially the defensive end," Cooks said.
"I think that's what we're going to take pride in, that end, build our identity from defence."
