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Andrew Gaze is the greatest Australian player to ever represent his country but the Boomers icon has forgiven Ben Simmons for snubbing the national side once again ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
The former No.1 NBA draft pick has made himself unavailable for Australian selection for almost a decade, but there was hope he could finally debut for the Boomers in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia
‘Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets have advised Basketball Australia that Ben is unavailable for the World Cup,’ Basketball Australia said in a statement.
‘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.’
Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets have agreed that the Aussie star needs to spend more time getting his body right for the NBA season so he will miss the World Cup
The Nets are hoping that more time in the gym will lead to more time on the court for their big investment after Simmons spent most of last season on the sidelines
It marks the third time that Simmons, battling back issues and mental health problems that have plagued his NBA career, has withdrawn from the Olympics or a World Cup.
Andrew Gaze is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest basketball player of all time due to his exceptional career achievements and contributions to the sport.
With a remarkable professional career spanning over two decades, Gaze played over 600 games in the National Basketball League [NBL] winning numerous championships and becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer.
Additionally, he represented Australia in five Olympic Games, playing a total of 264 international games and had stints in the NBA with the Washington Bullets and San Antonio Spurs.
He said that while Simmons absence was disappointing, he remained optimistic the Nets star would be available for the Paris Olympics in 2024.
‘It’s disappointing because we would love to have him involved in the program and I think we’ve seen over the years what he is capable of,’ he said.
‘But I also think we’ve got to have some sympathy and challenges for the challenges he’s faced over the last couple of years, going through some physical and mental health issues.
‘It’s never easy. Hopefully he can get himself right.
‘It would have been nice to have him here as part of the World Cup campaign but with the Olympics coming up, we certainly don’t want to rule out.’
Australian basketball GOAT Andrew Gaze hopes that Simmons will play for Australia at the Paris Olympics and still believes the Boomers can win the World Cup
Contract issues, mental health concerns and physical injuries have meant basketball fans have seen very little of Simmons on the court in recent years
Simmons Aussie teammate Patty Mills also plays with him at the Brooklyn Nets and has been working to help him find his groove
While Australia will pack plenty of talent in its squad for the World Cup, including NBA veterans Patty Mils and Joe Ingles and young superstar Josh Giddey, size will remain an issue against teams like the US and European powerhouses.
That is where Gaze could have most benefited the Boomers, Gaze said, moving from traditional point guard role and using his elite defence against bigger competitors.
‘I think the biggest asset that Ben brings to the table is his versatility,’ Gaze said.
‘When you look at some of the areas where we might be a little light on, I think the fact that he can bring that size and guard players 1-5, I think that he would have really helped out with his size.
‘Obviously he would have to buy into that and play a role that is something that is a little bit different to what he has done in the past in an NBA environment anyway.
‘But if he was willing to do that and spend some time in those positions, that he is not necessarily doing on a regular basis, I think that he would have been a great asset to the program.’
Australia won an historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, an emotional moment that brought Gaze to tears on live television.
While Simmons will be absent, rising star Josh Giddey is all-in for the World Cup and will provide a potent threat in the back court
Mills shares an emotional embrace with Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian after their historic medal win at the Tokyo Olympics
Former NBA player and current EuroLeague star Dante Exum will be just one of many talented players the Boomers can call upon at the World Cup in Simmons’ absence
He believes that the Boomers can go even better at the World Cup, but the challenge will be harder.
‘Because there are more good teams, it’s almost more difficult to have success at the World Cup than it is at Tokyo,’ he said.
‘But I think that we are well placed. We’ve got a great team, a lot of experience and I think most importantly we’ve got a team that has a great desire to play for Australia and do something special.
‘It’s exciting. I think we are one of probably half a dozen teams that most people would consider legitimate chances to win a medal.
‘When you look at us, the recent team that the United States announced, France has got their squad together, it’s going to be tough, but we can compete with the absolute very best.’
