Boomers coach Brian Goorjian leaves World Cup door open for Ben Simmons
The Boomers will play major warm-up games in Melbourne ahead of the World Cup with a stacked team that could still include Ben Simmons.
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Boomers coach Brian Goorjian says Ben Simmons remains in contention to join the squad ahead of this year’s World Cup.
The maligned NBA star remains determined to be fit to join the Boomers camp as a train-on player after missing the 18-man squad announced earlier this month.
Simmons, who has been working out at the Brooklyn Nets training centre as he recovers from back issues, was this week cleared to take the next step in his return to play.
He will need to join the Australian squad by July 30 and force his way into what Goorjian predicts will be a 15-man squad for a three-game warm up tournament in Melbourne before the final World Cup squad of 12 is confirmed.
The Boomers will face Brazil, Venezuela and South Sudan at Melbourne’s Rod Laver Arena before heading to Japan for the World Cup campaign.
“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.”
Goorjian said three or four players would likely be cut from the squad between the camp and the Melbourne games, beginning on August 14.
“We’ve got 18 guys, we’ll probably bring that to 15 when it comes to these three games here,” he said.
“The games will be important in selection – practice is one thing, but the games will be the other, they’ll really help us with the decisions.”
With Brazil and Venezuela both ranked within the world’s top 20 teams, Goorjian said the strong opposition would help the Boomers staff deal with a number of difficult selection decisions.
The 18-man squad features 10 NBA players, and Goorjian said his team was carefully sifting through footage to find the personnel who best suited his desired style.
“Quality games are important but even bigger is for this team to play on its home soil – we’re expecting full houses here and for the place to really hum, and we really want to put on a show,” Goorjian said.
“It’s pretty difficult, it’s pretty competitive in a lot of positions – the staff right now is talking about the camp, talking about the style of play, looking at games in the NBA that these guys played in and start putting some names and numbers on the board.
“It’s a great sign for Australian basketball that we’ve got these tight numbers and difficult decisions – that’s the sign that you have a good team.”
Originally published as Boomers coach Brian Goorjian leaves World Cup door open for Ben Simmons
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