Andrew Gaze is the best Australian player to ever represent his country, but the Boomers icon has forgiven Ben Simmons for once again disqualifying the national squad ahead of the FIBA World Cup.
The former NBA draft No. 1 has been unavailable for the Australian roster for nearly a decade, but there was hope he could finally make his debut for the Boomers in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.
“Ben Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets have informed Basketball Australia that Ben is not available for the World Cup,” Basketball Australia said in a statement.
“Ben needs more time to focus on his rehabilitation and he looks forward to being part of the Boomers in the future.
“We wish Ben all the best in his recovery.”
Simmons and the Brooklyn Nets agree the Aussie star needs to spend more time getting his body ready for the NBA season so he will miss the World Cup
The Nets hope more time in the gym will lead to more time on the field for their big investment after Simmons spent most of last season sidelined
It is the third time Simmons has withdrawn from the Olympics or a World Cup, struggling with issues and mental health issues that have plagued his NBA career.
Andrew Gaze is widely regarded as Australia’s greatest basketball player of all time for his exceptional career achievements and contributions to the sport.
With a remarkable professional career spanning over two decades, Gaze played over 600 games in the National Basketball League [NBL] winning numerous championships and becoming the league’s all-time leading scorer.
In addition, he represented Australia at five Olympic Games, played in a total of 264 international games and played in the NBA with the Washington Bullets and San Antonio Spurs.
He said while Simmon’s absence was disappointing, he remained optimistic that the Nets star would be available for the 2024 Paris Olympics.
“It’s disappointing because we’d like to bring him into the program and I think over the years we’ve seen what he’s capable of,” he said.
“But I also think we should have some sympathy and challenge for the challenges he’s faced over the years, going through a number of physical and mental health issues.
‘It’s never easy. Hopefully he can find himself.
“It would have been nice to have him here as part of the World Cup campaign, but with the Olympics coming up we certainly don’t want to rule it out.”
Australian Basketball GOAT Andrew Gaze hopes Simmons will play for Australia at the Paris Olympics and still believes the Boomers can win the World Cup
Contract issues, mental health issues and physical injuries have meant basketball fans have seen little of Simmons on the court in recent years
Simmons Aussie teammate Patty Mills also plays with him at the Brooklyn Nets and has worked to help him find his groove
While Australia will pack plenty of talent into its World Cup roster, including NBA veterans Patty Mils and Joe Ingles and young superstar Josh Giddey, size will remain an issue against teams like the American and European powerhouses.
That’s where Gaze could have benefited the Boomers the most, said Gaze, who moved away from the traditional point guard role and used his elite defense against bigger competitors.
“I think the biggest asset Ben has to offer is his versatility,” said Gaze.
“When you look at some of the areas where we might be a little light on, I think the fact that he can bring that size and guard players 1-5, I think he would have really helped with his size.
“Obviously he needs to believe in that and play a role that’s a little bit different than what he’s done in the NBA environment in the past.
“But if he had been willing to do that and spend some time in those positions, which he doesn’t necessarily do on a regular basis, I think he would have been a great asset to the program.”
Australia won a historic bronze medal at the Tokyo Olympics, an emotional moment that brought Gaze to tears on live television.
While Simmons will be absent, rising star Josh Giddey goes all in for the World Cup and poses a powerful threat in the backfield
Mills shares an emotional hug with Australian Boomers coach Brian Goorjian after their historic Tokyo Olympics medal win
Former NBA player and current EuroLeague star Dante Exum will be just one of many talented players the Boomers can call on in the World Cup in Simmons’ absence
He believes the Boomers can go even better at the World Cup, but the challenge will be greater.
“Because there are more good teams, it’s almost harder to be successful in the World Cup than in Tokyo,” he said.
“But I think we are well placed. We have a great team, a lot of experience and I think the most important thing is that we have a team that has a great desire to play for Australia and do something special.
‘It is exciting. I think we’re one of probably six teams that most people see as legitimate chances to win a medal.
“If you look at us, the recent team that the United States announced, France got their team together, it’s going to be tough, but we can compete with the very best.”