Australian basketball star Ben Simmons believes the Boomers now have “the right pieces” to eventually become a force on the world stage.
Australia are experiencing a golden era of basketball with no fewer than nine players plying their craft in the NBA at the moment and hopes are high that the Boomers will be able to win a medal for the first time both at next years World Cup and at the 2020 Olympics.
Ben Simmons says all the pieces are coming together for the Boomers.Credit:AP
Australias best result at an Olympics is fourth place (four times) and they havent finished higher than fifth at a World Cup.
“Definitely I think we have the right pieces to do that, I think its all going to come together at the right time,” Simmons told Triple M on Friday.
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“Youve got Delly [Matthew Dellavedova], Patty [Mills], Aron Baynes, [Andrew] Bogut, Dante Exum, Joe Ingles, Thon Maker also – a couple of guys who can actually play at a high level and compete with the best in the world.
“So I think when the timing is right, its all going to come together.”
Australians Jonah Bolden and Ryan Broekhoff are also playing in the NBA for Philadelphia and Dallas respectively and while Bogut is now featuring in the NBL with the Sydney Kings, he spent 13 seasons in the US.
The obvious hurdle in Australias way to potentially reach the summit of world basketball are the US heavyweights led by the brilliant LeBron James.
While Simmons and James might be on opposing sides in the NBA and on the international stage, the Melbourne-born No.1 draft pick described James as a “big brother” to him.
“Ive known LeBron since I was in 10th or ninth grade in high school when I came over to the States,” Simmons said.
“So he reached out to me and we started talking, then I went to a few Nike camps where I talked to him a little bit more and just learn from him and then I obviously went to college, he was watching me a fair bit, I signed with the same agent in Rich Paul, and we continued that friendship.
Joe Ingles is part of the Australian presence in the NBA.Credit:AP
“Hes like a big brother so hes always looking out for me and helping me get to that next level.”
Simmons says playing in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers is “a special thing” for him.
“As a kid I always dreamed about playing in the NBA and to have the opportunity every night to go out there and represent my team, my city and country is an amazing feeling and playing against the best players in the world every night is also a special thing I get to do,” he said.
Simmons has backed up his breakout season last year, which saw him win the rookie of the year, with an impressive start to 2018-19, averaging 15.5 points, 8.7 rebounds and 7.9 assists a game so far.
His 76ers are well-placed for another assault on the play-offs as well, sitting pretty in third place in the eastern conference a quarter of the way through the season.
Simmons will be next in action against the Washington Wizards on Saturday (AEDT).
Ronny Lerner is a Sports reporter for The Age.
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