Boomers assistant Luc Longley has a hunch Ben Simmons will represent Australia at World Cup

Ben Simmons’s chances of representing Australia in warm-up matches in Melbourne and Perth and at the 2019 World Cup in China remain on track.

Ben Simmons’s chances of representing Australia in warm-up matches in Melbourne and Perth and at the 2019 World Cup in China remain on track.

That’s the opinion of Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley, who has been a key facilitator in talks to secure Simmons in a Boomers singlet.

“My personal hunch is that he (Ben) wants to play,” Longley told The Daily Telegraph.

“But it’s still unclear. The young man has a lot of moving parts he is learning to manage.”

Longley’s assessment came on a day when Simmons helped Philadelphia level their Eastern Conference semi-final series against Toronto at 1-all.

Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons is yet to declare his commitment to Australia’s World Cup campaign in China. Picture: Frank Gunn/The Canadian Press via AP

The Melbourne-born point guard finished with six points, seven rebounds and five assists as his 76ers claimed a hard-fought 94-89 win over the Raptors.

Simmons is yet to declare his commitment to Australia’s World Cup campaign in China, starting on August 31.

On top of Philadelphia’s playoff push, he also has contract negotiations to work through.

Come July, Simmons will be eligible for a five-year maximum extension worth up to a whopping $223 million.

On the plus side, the Boomers hiring his godfather David Patrick as an assistant coach is a huge positive.

Ben Simmons will be eligible for a five-year maximum extension worth up to $223 million in July 2020. Picture: Vaughn Ridley/Getty Images

Patrick recruited Simmons to Louisiana State University and could play a role in securing his services for Australia at the World Cup.

Team USA head coach Gregg Popovich urged the public to be understanding if Simmons opts against playing at the World Cup.

From experience with America’s NBA stars, Popovich knows multiple factors go into securing top-line talent for international tournaments.

“You know, someone that doesn’t represent their country doesn’t necessarily mean that they are disloyal, unpatriotic or they don’t care,” Popovich said.

“It is not that at all.

“These guys have lives like you and I do and things happen in all our lives that make things a little bit more difficult to make everyone happy.

“So what is important is that every player looks at their own personal situation and if there are circumstances that make it very difficult, then that is totally understood.”