Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons will not play for the Boomers at the FIBA World Cup, with confirmation on Friday morning he had ruled himself out of the tournament.
Simmons 2022-2023 NBA season for the Brooklyn Nets was cut short by a back injury, the rehabilitation for which is ongoing.
His unavailability for the tournament, held in Japan from late August, was confirmed in a statement from Basketball Australia on Friday morning.
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“Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets have advised Basketball Australia that Ben is unavailable for the World Cup,” the statement, posted to social media, read.
“Ben needs more time to focus on his rehab, and he looks forward to being part of the Boomers in the future.
“We wish Ben all the best in his recovery.”
Aussie basketball legend Andrew Gaze said Simmons’ withdrawal was “disappointing”, but unsurprising.
“The challenges he’s faced over the last couple of years have been significant,” he told the The Age.
Simmons has battled the injury since his arrival at the Nets from the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2022 in a trade deal for James Harden.
The deal came about following a series of on-court scandals and suggestions he wasn’t a popular figure among teammates in the locker room.
He hasn’t played for the Boomers in a decade.
“Despite some people’s views, I think that I have a degree of compassion for what he’s had to go through,” Gaze said.
“It hasn’t been easy for him, and selfishly I’d love to see him play for Australia because I think he can help and make a real solid contribution.”
Although he had been left out of the original 18-man squad named in May, Boomers coach Brian Goorjian left the door open for the 26-year-old Simmons to train his way into the team via a selection camp on August 1.
“I think [Ben’s] mindset is getting healthy, getting in shape and getting ready to play in this [World Cup],” Goorjian told SEN at the time.
The Boomers are in Group E with Finland, Germany and hosts Japan. The Boomers’ first game is against Finland on August 25.
Extended Boomers squad: Xavier Cooks, Dyson Daniels, Matthew Dellavedova, Dante Exum, Sam Froling, Josh Giddey, Chris Goulding, Josh Green, Joe Ingles, Nick Kay, Jock Landale, Thon Maker, Will McDowell-White, Patty Mills, Keanu Pinder, Duop Reath, Matisse Thybulle, Jack White
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