Sixers tipped as NBA champions; Team’s ‘unforgivable’ moment

Ben Simmons is about to become the richest Aussie in sporting history — and this basketball great thinks he’s got the mojo to blitz the league.

Things are looking very different in the land of the free after the recent NBA free agency madness.

Over $3 billion in talent was exchanged, which saw stars like Klay Thompson and Tobias Harris pocket massive contracts nearing the A$300 million mark.

The biggest question of free agency — Kawhi Leonard — is still yet to be answered as speculation swirls over his potential move from Toronto to the Lakers, after cleaning up the championship last month.

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As for Ben Simmons, recent developments out of Philadelphia point to the Sixers gun signing the biggest contract in history by an Aussie athlete, after a reported five year, $240 million contract extension was tabled to the 23-year-old.

Former Boomers star Shane Heal weighed in on the lucrative week and shared his hot tip for the year ahead asbasketball heads to its off-season.

When asked who would be lifting the trophy in 2020, Heal backed the Sixers even with the looming proposition of Leonard jumping ship to Los Angeles.

“It would be really rolling the dice until Leonard makes his choice,” he said. “He carried Toronto to the championship this year and he’s already won one with San Antonio. If he goes to the Lakers, he’s going to team up with LeBron James and The Brow (Anthony Davis) and they’ll be very tough to beat.

“But right now, as it stands, I’m going to say Philadelphia (to win the championship).”

$240 million dollar man: Shane Heal says Ben Simmons’ Sixers are the current favourites for the 2019/20 championship.

‘UNFORGIVABLE’ SIN AS FINALS LOOM

It’s not been a good week for the Dockers.

With the AFL season turning into crunch-time for teams like Freo hovering around the eighth-place mark, a match against lowly Carlton is a blessing.

Or so the Dockers thought.

The home side all but had the game wrapped up after Michael Walters booted a goal with six minutes remaining and put Fremantle 15 points ahead.

But the underdogs mustered some moxy in the final three minutes, slotting three goals to crash the party.

AFL great Kane Cornes labelled the Dockers “arrogant” and said the gruelling loss to the likely wooden spooners was a well deserved bite on the backside.

AFL great Kane Cornes labelled the Dockers ‘arrogant’ after their massive Sunday defeat.

Heal couldn’t believe his eyes at the woeful performance at Optus Stadium and said the road ahead is bumpy for the Dockers with a derby around the corner.

“They were so disappointing last week. Losing at home, for a team who is trying to make the top eight, is unforgivable,” he said. “They won’t beat West Coast — they’ve got too much quality for Freo.”

Under-fire Freo coach Ross Lyon refused to bite back at the typically fiery Cornes. “I have a rule of thumb, I don’t really comment on commentators’ opinions,” Lyon told Channel 7.

“So I’ll keep it at that and make no comment. I’m not here to validate. It’s only important if you value someone’s opinion, so it’s a moot point with me.”

While the debilitating loss in Perth was a slap in the face, it wasn’t enough to pip the Dockers — who are at 7-7 going into round 16 — from the top eight.

MARK WAUGH ON TAMPER SLEDGING

Does anyone really still want to talk about ball tampering?

Australia is on top of the world at the World Cup after enjoying a dream run through the British Isles. The men from Down Under have managed to stay one point ahead of India — the Cup favourites — after losing just one match from eight.

Their next is against South Africa, which will be the first time the two sides have gone head to head on the world stage since the tumultuous ball-tampering scandal in early 2018.

When probed by Bryan Fletcher over the potential for sledging to get nasty between the two teams, former Aussie batsman Mark Waugh said the Proteas will need to look in the mirror before shooting barbs.

“How can they sledge?!” Waugh said. “(Captain) Faf du Plessis has been done twice for ball tampering, he’s actually got one up on our boys.

“He did the zipper stuff and he did the lollies in the mouth. I don’t think they’ll say too much but there might be a bit of heat there.”