Ben Simmons ‘doubtful’ to play for Australian Boomers in FIBA World Cup

It appears the dream of Aussie NBA star Ben Simmons leading the Boomers to their first major medal will have to wait, with his agent delivering a body blow to the nation’s FIBA World Cup hopes.

It’s the news no Aussie basketball fan wanted to hear, but, deep down, all knew was a possibility — Ben Simmons is “doubtful” to play for the Boomers in the FIBA World Cup.

NBA oracle Adrian Wojnarowski is reporting Simmons’ high-powered agent Rich Paul says the towering point guard wants to use the off-season to prepare for the Philadelphia 76ers’ assault on an NBA title — “free of national team responsibilities”.

Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons is "doubtful" to play for Australia in the FIBA World Cup this summer, his agent Rich Paul tells ESPN. Simmons is more likely now to spend his full offseason preparing only for the Sixers season -- free of national team responsibilities.

— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) July 13, 2019

“Doubtful” means it is almost no chance.

It’s a body blow for Australian basketball, which was hoping to unleash Simmons in a series of games against Team USA and Canada next month, before having 22-year-old lead the Boomers’ most talented outfit ever into the World Cup.

The onus will now fall on the likes of NBA veterans Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova and Aron Baynes to fly the Aussie flag, if they make themselves available.

Ben Simmons and his 76ers fell agonisingly short against the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semi finals. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Paul — who represents LeBron James, among other top-end NBA stars — is working with the Sixers on the details of a monstrous five-year US$168 million contract extension that would be the richest deal ever signed by an Australian athlete.

Simmons’ Sixers were a Kawhi Leonard bounce on the rim short of an NBA Finals appearance last season and have since made a number of moves, chiefly the addition of wily Boston Celtics frontcourt veteran Al Horford, in a bid to make the next step.

The 2018 Rookie of the Year averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 79 games last season and was named to the NBA All-Star team for the first time.

The 2019 FIBA World Cup will be in China from August 31 to September 15.

Originally published as Ben Simmons ‘doubtful’ to play for Australian Boomers in FIBA World Cup