‘It’s disappointing’: Gaze reacts to Simmons pulling out of FIBA World Cup

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze is disappointed that NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has pulled out of the FIBA World Cup, but does not think he should be criticised for the decision.

The news that Simmons would not play for the Boomers was announced by Basketball Australia on Friday, which comes as the basketballer continues rehabilitation for an ongoing back injury that cut his 2022-2023 NBA season short.

NBA all-star Ben Simmons has pulled out of the FIBA World Cup and won’t play for the Boomers Credit: AP

“It’s disappointing, but not surprising given the challenges he’s faced over the last couple of years have been significant,” Gaze said.

The 26-year-old has battled a back problem that has restricted his training since he joined the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade for James Harden in February last year.

“Despite some people’s views, I think that I have a degree of compassion for what he’s had to go through. It hasn’t been easy for him, and selfishly I’d love to see him play for Australia because I think he can help and make a real solid contribution,” Gaze said.

A Basketball Australia statement said on Friday: “Ben needs more time to focus on his rehab, and he looks forward to being part of the Boomers in the future. We wish Ben all the best in his recovery.”

He has not played for the national team in a decade, and was not named for the squad. However, in June, Boomers coach Brian Goorjian reiterated that Simmons had an open invitation to attend selection camp on August 1.

Asked what he would hope the response to the news would be, Gaze urged for understanding from fans.

Australian basketball legend Andrew Gaze has called for compassion as fans react to Simmons’ news. Credit: Justin McManus

“I would like to keep it that people can respect and appreciate the rationale behind the decision, and we refrain from the negativity from it all. I don’t think it helps. I don’t think it helps him individually, I don’t think it helps the team.”

Gaze, a seven-time NBL MVP, said there was merit to some criticisms levelled at Simmons, including his late withdrawals from the 2019 FIBA World Cup and 2021 Tokyo Olympics. However, he thought Simmons had valid explanations for those decisions.

“People see someone who’s making 50 or 60 million bucks a year, and believe they should be able to do things which, quite often, they’re not in the headspace to do, and there’s a lack of compassion because of the salary and the profile.”

Goorjian had made it clear that should Simmons’ work to rehabilitate his back injury allow him to join the Boomers for the first time since 2013, he would be welcome.

“The media ... I keep reading different things, but the message is he wants to play, and I really do believe that it’s something he wants to do, and right now, he’s in a process of getting healthy, and there’s no timeframe for him on it,” Goorjian said at the time.

“He’s got an open end on it, an invitation to August 1st, and if you can come through the door and perform at his level, he’s going to be in there and giving us a much better chance to win.”

Simmons has had a horrendous past two seasons, which saw him traded from Philadelphia 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets before that team was beset by unrest, while back surgery and then a further back issue left Simmons far from his best form.

Goorjian had enjoyed a long relationship with Simmons going back to his teenage years when he played for Goorjian’s brother Kevin at Box Hill Senior Secondary College.

With Roy Ward

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