NBA star Ben Simmons says he’ll represent Australian Boomers as national team eyes World Cup, Olympics

His team has been dumped from the NBA playoffs but the season will go on for Aussie star Ben Simmons. And the next time he suits up it’ll likely be in the green and gold.

It’s official.

Ben Simmons is going to be a Boomer.

The Australian NBA superstar dropped the bombshell on Twitter today, thanking Philadelphia 76ers fans for the support and then declaring his allegiance to the green and gold.

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“I’m going to be a Boomer. Stay tuned,” Simmons said in the 22-second clip.

Simmons also posted a message on Chinese social media via his Weibo account saying, “I’m happy to say I’m looking forward to representing my country Australia in the upcoming @FIBA World Cup in China.”

pic.twitter.com/Rld2p2XEEY

— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) May 15, 2019

Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis said it was “exciting times” for the national team as his mobile phone lit up like a Christmas tree in the minutes following Simmons’ video message.

“The door is open and we’ll welcome him with open arms when he walks through it,’’ Lemanis said.

“The dialogue with Ben and his people has been as a positive as you want it to be. It’s been great.

“He’s always had an intent to put his hand up for the Boomers as long as all the pieces fell into place.

“We’ll continue that dialogue with Ben and keep working with him.’’

Lemanis said an extended Boomers squad for this year’s FIBA World Cup in China would be named soon but it would be “fluid” as injuries, contract negotiations and other issues could still shape the final team.

Ben Simmons is set for warm-up matches. Pic: Getty Images/AFP

Boomers legend Andrew Gaze has praised Simmons’ commitment to the green and gold singlet.

“It’s really exciting and I think not only do we get someone that is extremely talented but it’s great that is prepared to devote his time and energy to Australian basketball,” Gaze told the Herald Sun.

“It speaks volumes to the individual to do it, because I would think there are some that would probably excuse him if he chose not to, but clearly it’s something that’s important to him and it’s obviously very important to us here in Australia and I dare say fans right throughout the world would like to see him play at this level.”

Simmons could yet be joined at the World Cup in China by other Australian NBA stars, including Andrew Bogut, Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Matthew Dellavedova, Aron Baynes and Mitch Creek.

“All of them want to be a part of it, and that combined with Ben joining that group, makes for a very special occasion for us, where we can expect some pretty extraordinary things,” Gaze said.

Simmons in action for the Boomers against New Zealand, back in 2013. Pic: Sandra Mu/Getty Images

“As Australians we’ve been searching for an international medal at the senior ranks for our men, for a long, long time, and virtually every other division we have been able to do it, and been extremely close, in that quest you always want to have your best players available and certainly Ben is a world class player that gives us our best chance of that success.”

Last month News Corp reported Simmons was on track to represent Australia in warm-up matches in Melbourne and Perth and at the 2019 World Cup in China.

Boomers assistant coach Luc Longley, who had 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 last month.

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

The Boomers now have that clarity and it’s a sign of intent from Simmons, who has been subject to trade rumours since the 76ers lost their eastern conference semi-final series to the Raptors 4-3.

There has even been speculation linking him with a move to the Los Angeles Lakers in a swap deal with his close friend LeBron James.

— with Adam Mobbs