Giddey backs Boomer Ben

Josh Giddey believes Ben Simmons still has unfinished business in the NBA, and he wants to see him make his senior Boomers debut too.

The speculation around Simmons' next move has intensified since he fronted a player-led Boomers mini-camp in Melbourne.

Giddey says an eventual NBL move could be perfect for the 30-year-old, but his money is on Simmons returning to the NBA first.

"I always love seeing Australians play in the NBL ... I think Ben is an NBA talent and can still be a very impactful player at the NBA level," Giddey told 9 News Adelaide's Will Crouch.

"That's obviously a him decision, but I think he's still got more to give in the NBA.

"But if that chance ever comes up, I'm sure it's something that you know he would have to weigh up.

"I always love seeing like Joe Ingles, Bogues (Andrew Bogut) and Delly (Matthew Dellavedova) come back to the NBL. It's always fun to see that."

The Courtside mini-camp was the first time Simmons, who missed the last NBA season rehabbing his injuries, has been around the senior Boomers setup in his career, after last representing Australia as a 17-year-old.

"He looks really good, that's the first thing I noticed when I saw him," Giddey said.

"Obviously he hasn't played professional basketball for probably the last year or so, but he's stayed in shape by continuing to work out; he looked really good at the camp.

"He's still got soft hands, while being powerful, explosive and getting downhill whenever he wants.

"Ben knows we always want him part of the green and gold, and if he wants to be there, he puts his hand up [to play]; he's going to be in the team.

"Hopefully he is, as he's going to be a massive part of what we do going forward.

"I'm confident he'll be there at the next big tournament."

That next big tournament will be the 2027 FIBA World Cup in Doha, before the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, which is why 20 Australian players decided to meet up in Melbourne.

"It's always good to get under one roof and get everyone together, especially as you prepare for these big tournaments," he said.

"We've got a World Cup coming up and then the Olympics a year later, so it's important to stay together.

"You don't want to go two or three years without being under the same roof and working out.

"It was a player-led camp, and we had guys flying from all over the world for it.

"I thought it was very productive, and we got a lot out of it.

"It's something we needed to keep doing going forward."

Other high-profile Boomers that attended the camp include Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, Johnny Furphy, Dante Exum, Matthew Dellavedova, Jack White, Nick Kay, Xavier Cooks, Taran Armstrong, Jack White, Chris Goulding, Alex Toohey, Lachlan Olbrich, Austin Rapp and NBL Next Stars guards Luke Paul and Dash Daniels.

Photos: Courtside Melbourne.