Having spent most of his life playing on either side of the Pacific, the 33-year-old is a free agent but has no desire to call time on the game yet.

Walker’s lengthy NBL career included five seasons with Melbourne Tigers/United and one with Adelaide 36ers before joining the Perth Wildcats in 2016, initially as a replacement for injured fellow Tasmanian Matthew Knight.

After two seasons in Western Australia including the 2017 NBL championship, the two-metre forward is out of contract but rejuvenated to play on after helping the Boomers claim the Commonwealth title.

“I’d really love to go back to Perth,” Walker said.

“I’m a free agent at the moment and that stuff should all get rolling but I’m going to take a bit of time off now and go on holiday and relax. We’ll see what happens in the next couple of weeks.”

Launceston-born Walker, who moved to Canberra in 2003 to attend the Australian Institute of Sport and then spent five years playing the US college circuit, was at home in Perth earlier this month expecting to watch the Commonwealth Games on television when he received a phonecall to say he was a late call-up after two Boomers were forced to withdraw from the squad.

A fortnight later the former West Launceston Primary, Riverside High and Launceston College student was sporting a gold medal and reflecting on a basketball journey which began with Westside Trojans in the Launceston Senior Basketball League.

“That was a long, long time ago. That was half my life ago. I was probably 15 or 16 and I’m 33 now. It seems like forever.

“I used to send hero faxes to all the Boomers at the Olympics when I was a really young kid.

“I never thought back then that I’d be here but it was always about sticking with it and loving it. It was never a chore. It was always something that I wanted to do.

“Basketball is my life and still is. I made so many choices throughout my career to get me to this point. They're not sacrifices, they’re choices. Everything that I wanted to do I stuck with it. It’s been a passion and I love it.”

Joining another Launceston-born former West Launceston Primary School pupil and NBL champion Chris Goulding on the Gold Coast, Walker was proud to represent his country in front of a home crowd including his family and girlfriend.

“I couldn’t ask for anything more,” he said after the gold medal victory over Canada.

“I was very fortunate to get this chance but couldn't be more excited. This is the best moment of my career, hands-down. Representing your country and winning a gold medal is untouchable.

“This is a dream come true getting towards the end of your career to do something like this is so special and something I’ll never forget.”

Walker was among five Perth Wildcats players on the podium at the Gold Coast Convention Centre alongside compatriots Angus Brandt, Jesse Wagstaff and Damian Martin and bronze-medal-winning Kiwi Jarrod Kenny.