NBL news 2023: Matthew Dellavedova says Ben Simmons should play at World Cup

Boomers leader Matthew Dellavedova has backed Ben Simmons bid to play in this year’s World Cup amid the buzz of a trio of warm up games set for Melbourne.

Ben Simmons in the green and gold? Delly wants to see it happen.

One of the custodians of the Boomers’ fabled culture has endorsed maligned NBA star Ben Simmons’ bid to play for Australia at this year’s World Cup.

Tokyo Olympic bronze medal winner Matthew Dellavedova wants the 27-year-old to be a part of the Aussie campaign and believes the culture of mateship that has flourished inside the Boomers’ camp would be beneficial for the former NBA Rookie of the Year.

“I think it would be great for him,” Dellavedova said.

“He obviously has unique size, athleticism, vision, passing ability and would add a different dimension to the group.

“Hopefully he can get healthy and be a part of it.”

Simmons, who recently said he still had dreams of wearing the green and gold at a major event, has been given a one-month ultimatum by Basketball Australia to confirm he wants to put himself in consideration for a spot at the August tournament.

Ben Simmons in the green and gold? Delly wants to see it happen.

He would need to join the Boomers’ selection camp in Cairns (July 30-August 9) as a 19th player and then perform well enough to make the final team of 12.

The Boomers will play three warm-up games in August at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena, giving Simmons a chance to pull on the Aussie jersey for the first time since 2013. The Aussies will face Venezuela, Brazil and South Sudan in the lead up to the World Cup.

Simmons, who has been working out at the Brooklyn Nets training centre throughout his recovery was, this week, cleared to take the next step in his return to play, checking another box for Boomers coach Brian Goorjian.

“Nothing has changed all the way through – (Simmons) didn’t play, finishing his season, and definitely he wants to be back,” Goorjian said.

“This would be great for him, great for us, and it’s all about health.

“And he’s working right now to get healthy and into the camp.”

The 208cm Melbourne-born former NBA No.1 draft pick was once Australia’s greatest prospect. But many have soured after a series of injuries, on-court struggles and his decision to decline multiple opportunities to represent Australia.

With Simmons in the early throes of an attempted career resurrection as he works to recover from health issues brought about by last May’s major back surgery, Dellavedova says he’d like to see the Brooklyn Net join the likes of Josh Giddey in carrying the Boomers’ torch for the next generation.

“Anyone who has pulled on the Boomers’ singlet has just tried to continue to push it forward,” Dellavedova said.

“I was lucky enough when I came in young it was Matt Nielsen, Dave Andersen, the more veteran players who … led the culture.

“Then Patty (Mills) and Joey (Ingles), and Baynesy (Aron Baynes) and Bogues (Andrew Bogut) and myself have really tried to continue to push that forward.

“In the next 10 years, I’m looking forward to seeing what Giddey and guys like that can do.

“You always want guys wanting to come in and improve, see how they can make things better, but always just have that pride in pulling on the green and gold, knowing they are representing our whole country, their families, their teammates from growing up, and their junior basketball coaches, but also all the other Boomers who have pulled on the green and gold before.

“It’s a special thing to be a part of.”

Dellavedova says the mateship that helped the Boomers take home a medal in Tokyo could be a big help to Simmons upon his return. Pics Adam Head

There’s an air of confidence around Dellavedova, 32, who has just signed a two-year deal to return to Melbourne United after a season with the Sacramento Kings in the NBA.

He’s hellbent on making the World Cup team.

“Boomers camps … are competitive physical basketball that you’re going to play and I think that preparation in a selection camp really helps us hit the ground running,” he said.

“You go through the list and there’s a ton of great players and just so much talent … coming through.

“It’s an exciting time for Australian basketball.”

Delly wants gold – and there’s a genuine belief a once impossible task is as close to a reality as it’s ever been.

“The goal is a gold medal and we’ve believed that for a long time – It’s a matter of making that happen,” he said.

“We have the group that can do it but there’s no easy games in international basketball.

“We’re definitely not going to be taking anyone lightly – we’ve got a tough pool.

“It’s going to be fun.”

From Melbourne to Sacramento and back to United, Matthew Dellavedova is back in

‘ATTACK’ MODE: DELLY’S OMINOUS WARNING AHEAD OF NBL RETURN

Delly 2.0 is coming home.

Matthew Dellavedova has signed a two-year deal to rejoin Melbourne United, fresh off a stint in Sacramento where he was part of an inspirational Kings’ campaign that ended a 16-year NBA playoff drought.

As he gears up to battle it out for a spot on the Boomers’ World Cup team before heading back to the Aussie league, the Tokyo Olympic bronze medallist has declared he’ll be a different beast to the one that suited up for United in NBL22.

Prior to that stint, the NBA champion landed in Melbourne on a mission to work his way back to full fitness after myriad ailments limited him to 13 games with Cleveland.

He would eventually turn in a campaign that was deemed All-NBL second team-worthy but, this time, the 32-year-old guard said he’ll enter NBL24 in “attack” mode.

Matthew Dellavedova has signed a two-year deal with Melbourne United. Picture: Getty Images

The relentless country Victorian said he’d stewed on United’s semi-final exit at the hands of Tasmania and made tweaks to his strength and training regime that have fuelled a renewed confidence in a 191cm frame he said felt stronger than it had in years.

“I definitely am excited to come back and play with United,” Dellavedova said.

“Finishing on top of the ladder a couple years ago and losing to Tassie in the semis was a tough way to finish so I feel like there’s some things to rectify there.

“Coming in to play that first season, I hadn’t played a lot of basketball. I had an interrupted lead up. I feel like this time I can really hit the ground running.

“I know what to expect, style of play from other teams, (coach) Dean’s (Vickerman) system and I’m excited to playing with Shili (Shea Ili), (Chris) Goulding, Jo (Lual-Acuil Jr), and Newls (Brad Newley) again.

“My body is feeling as good as it has in a long time. My mentality coming in this time is more to be on the attack.”

Delly was part of something special in Sacramento. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Delly during his first season at United. Picture: Getty Images

Aside from the reunion with his NBL22 mates, Delly is keen to get an up-close look at United’s new kid on the block Luke Travers — who he hopes to one day share Cleveland lineage.

“I keep in touch with a lot of the (Cleveland) staff and coaches there and they’re really excited about him, so I’m sure they’re going to be messaging and calling me all the time asking how’s he looking,” Dellavedova said of Travers, who was selected by the Cavs at No. 56 in the 2022 draft.

“I’m looking forward to getting to work with him and getting to know him better. He plays with great pace and poise and, for his size, can handle the ball, really pass it and rebound.

“I’ll definitely be pumping him up and trying to get him over there because they’ve got a great group together in Cleveland and an exciting future there.”

Vickerman is understandably buoyant to have his man back and even hinted at the possibility of playing him alongside fellow defensive dynamo Shea Ili for stretches.

“There are so many things that Delly brings to the table,” Vickerman said.

“It starts with his competitiveness and his grit to just want to win. You never feel like you’re out of a game when you’ve got him on the floor.

Delly is teaming up with united coach Dean Vickerman again. Picture: Michael Klein

“He’s a leader by actions, diving on the floor, winning loose-ball possessions, taking charges, and by his play, we saw he can really get hot with his three-ball and ability to score.

“The way he assesses the game, his total understanding of how to run a team, is unmatched, and we think he can bring that from either guard position.”

The 479-game NBA veteran credits Vickerman and the United staff for helping him secure a return to the big league and the coach kept in regular touch to ensure if and when he chose to come back to the NBL, it would be in Melbourne.

While he only appeared in 32 games and averaged under seven minutes, Dellavedova provided a valuable locker room presence under his former Cavs mentor — and Coach of the Year — Mike Brown, as “light the beam” became one of the beacons of the season.

But his campaign was prematurely ended by a broken finger. Surgery forced him to watch from the sidelines as the Kings pushed reigning champion Golden State — and his old nemesis Steph Curry — to seven games in the first round of the playoffs.

“It was a really enjoyable year, we had a great group and the fans were unreal … they really got behind the team, got behind the beam,” he said.

“It’s never good timing to get injured but especially right before the playoffs.

“It’s almost all good now and (there will be) no issues going forward.”

His focus is the World Cup, then United, but the NBA dream still lingers.

“I’m definitely not closing the door — if someone wants to call after the NBL season I’ll definitely pick up,” he said.

Originally published as NBL news 2023: Matthew Dellavedova says Ben Simmons should play at World Cup