FIBA Basketball World Cup: Boomers coach Brian Goorjian guarantees Ben Simmons a spot at training camp
Ben Simmons has an Australian Boomers World Cup camp position ready and waiting if he wants it according to Brian Goorjian, so is he ready to take up the offer?
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Ben Simmons has an Australian Boomers World Cup camp position ready and waiting if he wants it.
That’s the message from Boomers coach Brian Goorjian, who says it’s heartening to see Simmons back at training and working hard.
Goorjian believes the Brooklyn Net could be the solution to Australia’s size concern and he is hopeful the versatile guard/forward can recover from his back injury in time to attend Australia’s pre-tournament camp in Cairns from August 1-10.
The ball remains in Simmons’ court, but the signs he could play for the Boomers are positive based on his recent training routine.
The three-time NBA All-Star has taken to his personal Instagram to post images of him working out.
Simmons looks fit and focused and Goorjian says it’s exciting to see from a Boomers’ World Cup perspective.
“The conversation with Ben has been positive all the way through and I feel like there is a real chance that (he plays at the World Cup),” Goorjian said.
“That door is open. It’s something he would love to do, and we’d love to have him.
“He is working out hard and he is going to know where he is at and if he is capable.
“I’m very comfortable with what has been presented – and that is he’ll be there – but if not, hopefully there is an Olympics down the road.”
As of now, Goorjian is feeling optimistic about Simmons’ World Cup hopes, with just over two months before the team’s pre-tournament camp.
He feels like the Melbourne-born guard would benefit from time in the Boomers camp alongside players he has grown up with.
Goorjian also sees enormous upside in Simmons from a size perspective.
He concedes the Australians don’t possess power and physical presence compared to dominant nations like the USA, France and Spain.
The non-selection of veteran big man Aron Baynes has only intensified this issue, however Goorjian insists Simmons has the size (109kg) and height (6’10) to make the Boomers a formidable force at both ends of the floor.
“You look at our roster and if there is an area of concern it would probably be size, but (in Ben) you’ve got a situation of a guy who can guard and do whatever he wants offensively,” he said.
“The ball is in his hands, and you are going to give him the freedom to do that.
“Then defensively he is a very good defender. He can guard multiple positions and for us possibly five.
“One of the things we’re talking about heading into this (World Cup) is what we’re going to do to the opposition and their bigs, and he (Ben) would be very helpful there.”
Simmons is yet to represent the Boomers at an Olympics or World Championships after being cut from the final World Cup roster in 2014 and focusing on his rookie NBA season over the 2016 Rio Olympics.
He was set to play for the Boomers at the 2019 World Cup in China before he opted to forego his commitment to focus on the NBA after signing a five-year contract extension worth $242 million.
He was also in the mix to play at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, but opted to spend the off-season working on skill development.
Originally published as FIBA Basketball World Cup: Boomers coach Brian Goorjian guarantees Ben Simmons a spot at training camp
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