As Ben Simmons ‘cuts off communication’, the Boomers show him what he’s missing

The Boomers suffered a heartbreaking loss to Team USA in Tokyo but if Ben Simmons was watching, he may well have been feeling a little left-out.

Ben Simmons chose not to play for the Boomers in Tokyo. (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)

Midway through the second quarter of their semi-final loss to the USA, the Boomers bench erupted when they thought Nick Kay had been tripped.

The referee didn’t agree and nor did he appreciate the feedback, pinging the Aussies for a technical foul.

As America hit the free-throw line, Joe Ingles came from the bench into the centre of the court and approached the whistleblower. Towel slung over his shoulder, the Aussie veteran was filthy. He wanted to know why the culprit who brought down Kay got off scot-free, and left the conversation shaking his head.

Later in the quarter, Dante Exum drained one of his two three-pointers for the half. The bench went wild again. Then Matisse Thybulle nailed a lay-up and Exum roared, slapping the stanchion with his right palm.

A minute or so later, Thybulle got pinned for a foul that sent the US to the charity stripe. The four Americans who weren’t shooting were spread around the court, each left on their own as Draymond Green looked around and offered some pretty pointed advice to his teammates about how they needed to lift.

While this was happening, Ingles and Patty Mills dragged the Boomers into a half-court huddle and regrouped, offering words of encouragement.

Australia went down 97-78 to end their hopes of a gold medal in Tokyo. But it’s what the cameras didn’t show that told the real story about a team that had the country biting its nails in anticipation during a rip-roaring first half.

Ben Simmons went to Wimbledon with Maya Jama while the Boomers prepared for Tokyo. (Photo by Karwai Tang/WireImage)

While the US bench remained muted for most of the first stanza, the contrast on the Australian side of the court couldn’t have been greater. There were plenty of chairs but the Boomers bench spent more time on their feet than on their backsides.

Every call, every non-call, every three-pointer made, every lay-up missed, sparked a visceral reaction from the sideline. Players, coaches and support staff were making more than enough noise to compensate for the vacant stands caused by the pandemic.

Hunting a victory that would guarantee the Aussies their first Olympic medal in men’s basketball – which now must come in a bronze medal playoff against Slovenia on Saturday – it was obvious how much this meant.

American basketball writer Chris Mannix made note of the on-court chemistry that saw Australia take a shock lead for much of the first half, and the good vibes he was referring to extended to the entire squad.

“The confidence – and continuity – this Australian team plays with is impressive. Many of these players in their second or third Olympic cycles. Chemistry is noticeable,” Mannix tweeted.

Ben Simmons opted out of the Olympics to work on his skill development after Philadelphia crashed out of the NBA Playoffs and his shooting woes became the hottest topic in basketball.

His future in the pros is uncertain after a report he has “cut off communication with basically everyone in the Sixers organisation” and is “open to” joining the Golden State Warriors.

Source: Ben Simmons has cut off communication with basically everyone in the Sixers organization. Everything is going thru his agent, Rich Paul. Ben is open to going to the GSWs though he doesn’t have much leverage in the situation.

— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) August 5, 2021

Many suggested he would have been better off joining the Boomers to get back in touch with his love for the game, but Simmons has a complicated history with the national team and it wasn’t exactly a surprise when he confirmed he wouldn’t be flying to Tokyo.

Seeing the emotion on show from everyone decked out in green and gold on Thursday, it was hard not to think Simmons is missing out on something special.

In the NBA where egos and monstrous pay-packets reign supreme, it was obvious the Boomers were playing only for each other and pride in their country. The way they didn’t just scrap in the first half, but owned the USA, was proof of that – as was the support on show all over the court.

Thybulle plays alongside Simmons in Philly and has won rave reviews for his performances as a defensive beast at these Games. He was at it again against America, picking Draymond Green’s pocket in the paint and intercepting passes like a pest.

Would Simmons have gained from playing alongside Patty Mills? Picture: Adam Head

Aussie fans who may not have even known about Thybulle’s Australian pedigree before the Olympics now have a new favourite player to cheer for in the NBA. He may even be everyone’s favourite Aussie at the Sixers now.

Simmons has his reasons for skipping the Games and a tough end to the NBA season only made the waters murkier. The purpose here isn’t to criticise him, but to lament what may have been a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity missed.

Odds are the spiritual leaders of the Boomers, Ingles and Mills, won’t be around in three years for another tilt at Olympic hardware. Simmons may have missed his last chance to be their brother in green and gold on the biggest international stage.

From what we saw on Thursday, the bond between the Boomers is as genuine and authentic as it gets. It’s a shame Simmons didn’t get to experience that first-hand.

Originally published as As Ben Simmons ‘cuts off communication’, the Boomers show him what he’s missing