Like many players, Brooklyn Nets playmaker Ben Simmons is eyeing the 2028 LA Olympics. However, his intention isn’t to play for Team USA. The Melbourne native tells CODE Sports that he’s hoping to play for Australia’s men’s national team (h/t NBL).
LA28? 👀
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Simmons, 28, has represented Australia in two FIBA events — the U17 World Cup and the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship. He played just 14 minutes during the FIBA Oceania Championship, which was his only experience with the Senior Team. That being said, Simmons has had several chances to play for the Boomers.
The problem is that there are always extenuating circumstances.
Will Ben Simmons Play For Nets Or Boomers In 2028?
Prior to 2016 Rio Olympics, he withdrew from the team in order to focus on the upcoming NBA draft. When he was set to play in the 2019 FIBA World Cup, he pulled out due to “professional obligations.” Then, he withdrew from the 2021 Tokyo Olympics to “focus on individual skill development.”
In the case of the 2016 Rio Olympics, Simmons really can’t be faulted for choosing to focus on the draft. He was projected to be the No. 1 pick and an untimely injury could’ve jeopardized that. So far as the 2019 FIBA World Cup, the Philadelphia 76ers could have recommended that he decline to play for Australia’s national team. After all, Joel Embiid didn’t participate despite being already demonstrating that he was one of the best players in the world.
His refusal to join the Boomers in 2021 is particularly dicey. Simmons was coming off of his third straight All-Star season but was at a low-point in his career. The Sixers had just been upset by the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Though Simmons generally played well, Embiid and former head coach Doc Rivers scoffed at his decision to pass-up a layup for a potential assist, which turned out to be a game-changing play. The problem went deeper than the surface though, as Simmons was already being criticized for refusing to shoot jumpers.
When Simmons bypassed the Tokyo Olympics in favor of doing skill work, it was largely due to external and internal pressure.
Ben Simmons Prioritizes The NBA
What does that mean for 2028?
It’s evident that Simmons will prioritize his NBA career.
Whether he’s playing for the Nets or another franchise, he’ll devote his offseason to what’s best for them. Should he be a free agent, he could lean towards using his summer to prove he should be on a roster. However, if Brooklyn or any other organization gives him the green light, he could play for the Boomers. If he’s a free agent, he might decide that playing for the national team is his best way to audition for a spot on an NBA roster.
As a result, the best predictor of whether Simmons will play for Australia —if healthy and productive enough to be considered by the Boomers at that time —might be his situation.
Trust, Respect, Appreciation
The Nets genuinely respect Simmons’s basketball IQ and skillset. Simmons appreciates the way they’ve handled his injuries. This has helped generate trust, at least from Simmons’s side. The two parties might even continue their partnership beyond this season despite his injury-plagued Nets tenure.
If Simmons approaches Brooklyn’s front office about playing for Australia and they give him the green light, he might just be donning green and gold.
There are other organizations that could give Simmons the go-ahead too. However, they would have to develop a certain level of comfort with one another. The team would have to believe playing for the Boomers won’t negatively affect Simmons’s health. Simmons would have to believe his skillset is good enough for them to not have to transform himself.
