Simmons comeback gathers momentum

Could the door be open for Ben Simmons to return to basketball, potentially in the NBL?

The Australian star, who took the past NBA season to recover from his injuries, has taken his biggest step yet towards a return to the court by posting via social media that he's ramping up his preparation for the coming season, wherever that may be.

"I wouldn't change the story," Simmons said via Instagram.

"The highs, the lows, the pain, the time, the lessons.

"I embrace all of it. Every chapter built something in me that I couldn't have built any other way.

"Grateful for where I've been. Proud of where I stand. Ready for wherever this goes."

Following this, Andscape's Marc J. Spears reported that part of the three-time NBA All-Star's journey back includes being part of Australian men's team mini-camp in Melbourne, ahead of both the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games.

"NBA free agent forward Ben Simmons is expected to be a full participant with "zero restrictions" in a player-led Aussie men's national team mini-camp in Melbourne beginning Monday," Spears said.

"The three-time NBA All-Star paid his own way to the camp.

"A coach who worked out Simmons recently said he has regained his athleticism.

"The injury-plagued 30-year-old said this is the best he's felt in years."

The 2020 All-NBA Third Team member, who has 422 games to his name with Philadelphia, Brooklyn and the Los Angeles Clippers, reportedly has "dreams of playing at the Olympics", which his godfather Dave Patrick backed up.

"Believe it or not, he wants to wear it and I think the Olympics is kind of his goal," Boomers assistant and Simmons' godfather Dave Patrick said on basketball.com.au's Cut to the Jase.

"I think as he's got older and matured like all of us do, I think that's one thing he hasn't ticked off the box, playing for his country.

"He played in the youth level, but it's nothing like playing with the Boomers.

"So I think he's on track to trying to get healthy mentally and physically, and I think it's something that he will try to do moving forward.

"It'd be an exciting time to hopefully try to get him into LA, but there's some steps in place when you've been out for the year that he has been."

Despite Spears reporting that Simmons has 'several NBA teams interested in him', Australian basketball icon Andrew Gaze would love to see him in the Hungry Jack's NBL.

"He's an interesting prospect. If he has the desire, then there's no doubt in my mind, it's still a guy in his late 20s that he could play at a high level," Gaze told NBL Media.

"He's an NBA All-Star, and provided his body is in the right shape and he's comfortable where he's at, he would dominate this competition.

"[He's] a 6'10" point guard, a guy that we can equate to Magic Johnson type skills.

"I think this [League] would be a great platform for him to come back and continue his career in basketball. He's a superstar."

The Hungry Jack's NBL27 Season tips off on Saturday, September 19 when Melbourne hosts Adelaide at John Cain Arena.