Boomers camp a statement of intent

11 Aug 2026

Jock Landale and his Australian Boomers are currently in camp in Melbourne, to prepare for next year's FIBA World Cup.

By

NBL.com.au

With two big international tournaments on the horizon, the Australian Boomers are hosting a player-led camp in Melbourne this week to prepare themselves.

Attending this camp at CourtSide Melbourne, according to ESPN's Olgun Uluc, are 20 players including Boomers' Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, Patty Mills, Jack McVeigh, Alex Toohey, Lachlan Olbrich, and NBL Next Stars guards Luke Paul and Dash Daniels.

With so little time together to prepare for these tournaments, including the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Qatar and the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, NBA star Jock Landale knows the importance of these camps.

"This is a player-led camp, compared to the other national programs that will lead into next year's World Cup and then the Olympics," Landale said on Triple M's Rush Hour.

"A lot of those other countries get together and play against one another in the off-season, especially in Europe.

"We were like, we got some stuff to figure out, so we decided to come together and just play against one another.

"It's an opportunity for us to get together, [build cohesion], and sharpen the tools [ahead of next year]."

Another big name confirmed to be at the camp, which has no affiliation with Basketball Australia, is three-time NBA All-Star and former number one overall Draft pick, Ben Simmons.

"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," Antscape's Marc J. 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."

Landale says Simmons' attendance is exciting, as the 422-game NBA veteran has not represented his country since the age of 17 and never at a senior level.

"He's obviously had his health issues the last couple of years and just took some time to get himself right," Landale said.

"By all reports he's in really good shape, so it will be good to get him among it all and get out there."

Landale recently signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Hawks for the 2026-27 NBA season.