Simmons Doesn’t Make Boomers Team: Williams

2010 NBL MVP Corey Williams has declared Australian NBA star Ben Simmons won’t make the cut for the Australian Boomers team if he isn’t healthy.

Simmons was offered a spot to play for the Boomers in the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, but pulled out and hasn’t played for his country since he first joined the NBA in 2016.

In an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month, Simmons said he “100 per cent” wants to play for Australia.

But Williams believes he won’t walk into the squad as many would expect. 

“Ben Simmons doesn’t make this team, he doesn’t make this team,” Williams said on NBL Overtime.

“He needs to get through the NBA season first. He needs to be healthy; I don’t think he makes a seat.

“There’s still a big hurdle mentally he needs to show everybody that he’s gotten over.”

Simmons is back on the court with the Brooklyn Nets after missing last season through a variety of different injuries.

“Of course, I wanted to go out there and play with Dante Exum and Joe Ingles and Patty Mills – those are my guys,” Simmons told The Sydney Morning Herald.

“But there’s only so much to say: I was in a bad place, and I didn’t play. Do I want to play for Australia? One hundred per cent. Will I one day? One hundred per cent. I’m going to the Olympics. It’s not a question – it’s a dream of mine.”

Host of NBL Overtime, Cam Luke, agreed with Williams’ comments, but defended Simmons due to his current circumstances.

“He’s got to work through both the back injury and knee soreness, and the fact he hasn’t played basketball in over 12 months, and he’s doing it in a tough environment with a million other things going on with the (Brooklyn) Nets,” Luke said.

“Ben (Simmons) had a tough run. You want to introduce Ben Simmons in some type of Boomer environment.”

More familiar names were brought up about who will make the Boomers team for the 2023 World Cup and 2024 Olympics, including Xavier Cooks, Aron Baynes, Josh Giddey and Josh Landale.

“Xavier Cooks makes the team,” Luke said.

“After this season, Baynes is going to play on the world stage to show everybody he’s back,” Williams said.

“Landale’s in,” Williams said passionately, with Luke and Liam Santamaria agreeing.

“Josh Giddey is the face of Australian Basketball, Dyson Daniels is right next to him,” Williams said.