DETROIT (Rio 2016 Olympic Games/FIBA Asia Cup 2017) - If there's one certainty for each and every Australia player who missed the podium at the Olympics with a Bronze Medal Game defeat to Spain in Rio de Janeiro on 21 August, it's that there will be "more burning for when we get another opportunity."

Those words belong to Aron Baynes. Time is supposed to heals all wounds, but what time will not do is make Baynes or any of his Boomers teammates forget the day they lost 89-88 to Spain.

"It's unfortunate because it kind of feels like we went there and didn't fulfill what we wanted, not getting a medal," Baynes said in Detroit, where he is now playing with the NBA's Pistons. "That hurts, and it leaves us feeling a little bit empty."

Baynes has had a key role for Australia for several years, now. At the 2014 FIBA Basketball World Cup, he was arguably his country's most important player. 

He did not disappoint in Rio, averaging 9.6 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. If he plays at the FIBA Asia Cup 2017, Australia will again lean heavily on the 29-year-old.

There are, indeed, some very important basketball dates coming up for Australia. They will need to qualify for the FIBA Basketball World Cup 2019, which is to be staged in China. That 32-team tournament will serve as a qualifying event for the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo.

Rio did not have the finish that Australia craved but the last couple of contests - they lost to Serbia in the Semi-Finals - didn't ruin the overall experience of being at the Summer Games.

"Whenever I get to put on the green and gold and represent my country, that's one of my highest honors for me and when I am able to do it with a bunch of mates as well, that makes it more special," Baynes said in remarks carried by mlive.com.

"You are around the best athletes in the world so you have to enjoy that aspect of it. It was pretty special being down there."

If Baynes is still feeling the sting of the loss to Spain, he's having to cope with a different type of pain early in the NBA campaign. Several days before the start of the regular season, Baynes broke his nose in practice and had surgery. He is playing with a face mask.

FIBA