The Boomers may have walked away from the Rio 2016 Olympic Games without a medal, but the overall success of the campaign cannot be understated.

They entered the Olympic tournament as the No. 11-ranked team in the FIBA standings, but victories against Lithuania (No. 3), France (No. 5) and Serbia (No. 6) should see them move comfortably into the top 10.

That success comes on the heels of Ben Simmons and Thon Maker being drafted with the No. 1 and No. 10 picks respectively in the 2016 NBA draft, and hence light has never shone brighter on Australian basketball.

Australia currently has eight contracted players for the 2016-17 NBA season, behind only Canada, France and Brazil on the international players list. Include New Zealander Steven Adams -- and it's not like Australia doesn't have form in that regard -- and the number rises to No. 9.

(Aron Baynes was also born in New Zealand, but he's well and truly Australian having played for the Boomers.)

So, of the contracted NBA players from Australia and New Zealand, who is the cream of the crop?

1. Andrew Bogut (Dallas Mavericks)

The No. 1 draft pick from 2005, Bogut has tasted, by far, the most success from an Australian standpoint: 2015 NBA champion, 2015 NBA All-Defensive second team, 2010 All-NBA third team, 2006 NBA All-Rookie first team.

Having recently been dealt from Golden State Warriors to Dallas Mavericks, Bogut will be a bigger focal point at both ends of the floor and should look to regain the form he possessed in Milwaukee.

Career figures: 10.3 points per game, 8.9 rebounds per game, 2.3 assists per game, 1.6 blocks per game.

Australia's Andrew Bogut wins the ball from Lithuania's centre Jonas Valanciunas. ANDREJ ISAKOVIC/AFP/Getty Images

2. Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs)

He is the quickest Boomers star of all, although Dante Exum may challenge him when healthy, and their go-to player on the international stage. Mills has led the scoring for the Boomers at the past three Olympic Games.

His teammates love playing with him; they love his energy and the way he goes about his game.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich is a hard taskmaster but even he has a soft spot for Mills. Boomers assistant coach and former NBA champion Luc Longley interestingly said during the Olympic tournament that Mills was "a first-string point guard or 2 man somewhere in the NBA, he's just been in a very deep and talented situation in San Antonio".

Career figures: 7.5 ppg, 1.5 rpg, 1.9 apg, 0.6 steals per game.

Patrick Mills Christian Petersen/Getty Images

3. Steven Adams (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Adams had his coming out party during the 2015-16 NBA playoffs, asserting himself as the Thunder's go-to man behind megastars Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant.

With Durant fleeing town, the No. 2 position is open and Adams is primed to become the Robin to Westbrook's Batman off the back of averaging almost a double-double during 18 playoff games.

Career figures: 6.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 0.7 apg, 1.0 bpg.

4. Matthew Dellavedova (Milwaukee Bucks)

Dellavedova is taking his championship experience from Cleveland to the youngest side in the league, where he'll likely play second fiddle to Michael Carter-Williams but should see much increased average minutes.

Off the back of a stellar Olympics campaign, in which he finished with the highest number of assists, Delly will be looking to translate that form into the coming NBA season.

Career figures: 5.7 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 3.4 apg, 0.5 spg.

Matthew Dellavedova Elsa/Getty Images

5. Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)

The new Australian poster boy; there hasn't been this much attention placed on a draft pick since a kid named LeBron James.

Simmons took home the SEC Freshman of the Year and USBWA National Freshman of the Year awards for 2015-16, while also being named a consensus first-team All-American and first team All-SEC.

Taken with the No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft, Simmons has the weight of Philly on his shoulders as he is expected to lead them toward salvation.

Career figures (college): 19.2 ppg, 11.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.9 spg.

Ben Simmons is the next face of Australian basketball. Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images

6. Dante Exum (Utah Jazz)

Returning from a significant knee injury, Exum has a new point guard from whom to learn his trade. The Jazz traded away Trey Burke and brought in George Hill to deliver a clear indication to Exum; the future point guard position is in his hands.

Having the trust of the team behind him, Exum will be given plenty of opportunity to flourish and should help the Jazz climb the rankings out West.

Career figures: 4.8 ppg, 1.6 rpg, 2.4 apg, 0.5 spg.

7. Aron Baynes (Detroit Pistons)

The Pistons are looking to push up the rankings in the Eastern Conference, and Baynes is looking to make his mark playing behind Andre Drummond in Detroit.

The Boomers' second-highest scorer and leading rebounder in Rio, the man who looks like he could walk onto the set of Vikings is set to take on a bigger role.

His offensive game still needs work, but his defensive intensity and hustle will go a long way in the NBA.

Career figures: 6.3 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 0.6 apg, 0.6 bpg.

8. Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz)

Ingles went to the NBA as a seasoned player, and he brings a mature head to Utah. Playing behind Joe Johnson, Ingles will never be expected to be the go-to player for the Jazz.

He will be a much-needed asset in Utah as long as he can play serviceable minutes and bring a veteran presence to the second unit.

Career figures: 4.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg, 1.7 apg, 0.8 spg.

The Bucks freely admit they took a risk by drafting 19-year-old Thon Maker at No. 10. But they are feeling more confident with Maker after he showed flashes of potential in his first summer league. David Dow/Getty Images

9. Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks)

Maker represents the unknown. He declared for the NBA draft early, and most teams had him likely to be available in the mid-to-late first round. Milwaukee stepped forward to take him at No. 10.

Combining height (213cm) with exceptional skills and athleticism, Maker is a star in the making; when schools such Kansas, Kentucky and Indiana throw offers at you, you know you're doing something right.

He recorded double-doubles in the NBA summer league, and he can be expected to climb the rankings once he gets more game time under his belt.

Career figures: N/A

Key questions for the future