Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons is left out of Australia’s World Cup roster to ‘focus on his rehab’

Three-time All-Star Ben Simmons will not play for Australia at the World Cup this summer as the Brooklyn Nets guard instead focuses on his injury recovery.

Simmons was limited to 42 games in his first full season with the Nets and did not play after the All-Star break due to nerve damage in his back that required rehabilitation.

The 26-year-old has struggled with injuries throughout his career and sat out the entire 2021/22 season with a back injury that sidelined him after being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons also sat out his entire rookie season with a foot injury after being drafted No. 1 overall from LSU in 2016.

He didn’t play in more than 60 games in two of his last three seasons in Philadelphia, but he was still handed a five-year, $177,243,360 contract after his three consecutive All-Star appearances.

Simmons recently posted pictures of himself working out and he seemed to be in great shape

Brooklyn Nets teammate and Australia national team captain Patty Mills was recently non-committal about Simmons playing for his country due to his ongoing rehabilitation.

In his 42 games last season, Simmons averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game.

Simmons recently posted several photos of himself working out at the University of Miami and he appeared to be in great shape, but he and the team decided it was best to continue rehabilitating his back.

This has been announced by the Australian Basketball Federation Thursday on Twitter that Simmons and the Nets had notified the organization that he would not be available.

“Ben needs more time to focus on his rehabilitation and looks forward to being part of the Boomers in the future,” said Basketball Australia. “We wish Ben all the best in his recovery.”

Simmons had stated in May that he wanted to play for the national team, but speaking recently at the inauguration of a mural celebrating local and global Indigenous communities in Brooklyn, his Nets teammate and Australian team captain Patty Mills was noncommittal about Simmons close join the Boomers.

“It still feels like weeks away, but from all the chords and from what I’ve heard, he’s taking care of his body and getting in the shape and healthy that everyone wants and needs,” Mills said.

“So for him, it comes down to that point in the first place where he can be Ben again. Obviously, he’s looking at a full off-season rehab of healthy workouts, both in the gym and on the field.”