As a fan of Australian basketball, I’m furious, bordering on livid, with the fact our brightest young star has turned his back on the Boomers for the Rio Olympics.
Rio promised to be Australia’s best chance to break their medal drought in men’s basketball. A starting five of Matthew Dellavedova, Patty Mills, Joe Ingles, Ben Simmons and Andrew Bogut, with the likes of Dante Exum, Aron Baynes and David Anderson on the bench, was going to be a serious medal threat.
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Unfortunately, Simmons, the projected number one pick in this year’s NBA Draft, has announced he won’t be competing in the Olympics.
Full basketball schedule for the 2016 Olympics
The Boomers’ medal hopes aren’t completely scuppered by the news – there are still three NBA champions in the squad – but they’ve taken a massive blow. Simmons might not be as developed as Bogut or Mills, but on raw talent he is in a league of his own.
But, taking away the bias of an Australian basketball fan, Simmons’ decision is understandable.
The Boomers’ pre-Olympics camp takes place smack bang in the middle of the NBA Summer League. For a rookie who missed out on March Madness, it will be vital for Simmons to get as much basketball with his new team under his belt before the NBA season proper starts.
That means turning up for Summer League.
Skipping the Olympics will also allow Simmons to hit the gym as much as possible with his new team. It’s no secret the Aussie didn’t develop at LSU as much as everyone was expecting.
Simmons needs to learn as much from his new teammates and coaches before he makes the jump to playing against the seasoned pros of the NBA. He won’t get that chance at the Olympics.
Skipping Rio will also boost Simmons’ relationship with his new team. It’s no secret NBA teams don’t like having their players take part in international tournaments, and it’s easy to understand why.
NBA franchises pay a player’s salary. Their coaches develop them, iron out any weaknesses in a player’s game. From their point of view, national teams do little but tire out players, already fatigued from the NBA’s gruelling 82-game schedule, and provide an extra opportunity for injuries to arise.
Just ask the Indiana Pacers, who lost Paul George for most of the 2014-15 season after the superstar small forward gruesomely broke his leg during a scrimmage for Team USA.
Or ask the Utah Jazz, who lost Exum for this season when the Aussie tore his ACL playing for the Boomers against Lithuania.
Dallas Mavericks owner Marc Cuban certainly hasn’t been shy about criticising the Olympics.
“The [International Olympic Committee (IOC)] is playing the NBA. The IOC is an organisation that has been rife with corruption, to the point where a member was accused of trying to fix an Olympic event in Salt Lake. The IOC [pulls in] billions of dollars. They make a killing and make Tony Soprano look like a saint,” Cuban said after George’s injury.
“The pros in multiple sports are smart enough to not play when they are eligible free agents. But teams take on huge financial risk so that the IOC committee members can line their pockets.
“The greatest trick ever played was the IOC convincing the world that the Olympics were about patriotism and national pride instead of money. The players and owners should get together and create our own World Cup of Basketball.”
Simmons is going to be burdened with the hopes and dreams of whichever franchise drafts him in June. The last thing he needs is to start off on the wrong foot with his new team by flying off to Brazil in August.
That Simmons won’t be part of the Boomers’ medal push at Rio is a travesty for Aussie basketball fans.
For unbiased fans of Simmons though, it’s nothing but good news.
Eurobasket
Guest
And you have of course taken into account the future form and strength of regular Olympic and World Champ medal winners France, Serbia, Lithuania, Italy, Greece, Brazil and you know exactly where they will be in 2020. Not even the world's best basketball expert knows what these teams will be like in 2020, but history tells us - they always get it right.
Dingo
Guest
I left Bair out deliberately. Lisch is another that was hard to leave out. I couldn't see Bair, Jawai or Maric getting too many minutes behind Bogut, Baynes or Andersen. Even Motum could be a decent small ball centre (4th option). Big immobile power forwards that don't shoot 3s well are not an effective type of player, in international tournament play, from my observations. Lisch is more skilled than Marto - but what a guy to have at 12 and let's face it - he's Aussie.
Swampy
Guest
No love for Cameron Bairstow? Or did he decline?
pete bloor
Guest
If only we had a BigAl's a hole tab to stick it in?
Squidward
Roar Rookie
Basketball is a US dominated sport. Where do you want the article? Rugby league?
peeeko
Guest
isnt he going to be just as much chance playing NBA summer league and in training scrimmages with his NBA team?
Dingo
Guest
Good move for Simmons and it doesn't hurt the Boomers' chances that much anyway. My boomers side at the moment would be : Starters: Second unit. 11/12 Bogut. Baynes. Motum Newley. Anderson. Damien Martin. Broekhoff. Ingles Goulding. Steindl Mills. Dellavedova. Would love to have heathy Simmons and Exum in the squad, however, we can gain some more 3 point shooting and give the point duties exclusively to patty and delly. We have to be able to defend and knock down the 3 ball at 4 positions international basketball. Newley at PF could be like Draymond Green for Warriors or Sam McKinnon was for boomers. Anderson and Steindl can spot up in each corner for Ingles and Delly to hit. Bogut can cover some of the rebounding and defensive limitations of the starting five with rim protection.
Swampy
Guest
What exactly does The Boomers coach do if he is not regularly in contact with or watching potential squad members? Is it not a FT position?
McNaulty
Roar Rookie
He looked disinterested in his college 'career' let alone the olympics. This guys eyes have been on the NBA for a few years now and fair enough.
Liam Clark
Roar Guru
It's a good move for Simmons. The Boomers won't have Exum and as many have stated, we have more of a chance for Gold come 2020 when the young players have developed and matured a tad. Simmons also doesn't need to risk getting injured coming up to the NBA draft.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
It may be there's a problem the other way around, that Basketball Australia haven't done everything possible to get Simmons on board. A Fox Sports article from yesterday reported that Andrej Lemanis is rarely in touch with guys like Simmons and Thon Maker. If that's true, it's troubling; it should be up to our national coach to get our future prospects involved with the Boomers as soon and as often as possible.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
I have a feeling the Boomers will have a chance to do something even more special in 2020, if our young guns all suit up then. Simmons, Exum, Isaac Humphries, Thon Maker... that's some serious talent which should develop nicely over the next four years.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
It's fair to say there's a monumental difference between playing for Australia and playing for the USA; it's not so much about who you're playing against, but who you're learning from on your squad. Anthony Davis was playing alongside the best basketballers in the world when he was on Team USA's roster. Guys like Patty Mills and Andrew Bogut are solid, seasoned NBA players, but they can't offer to Simmons what guys like Kevin Durant and LeBron James offered to Davis. Then there's also the difference in coaches; Davis got to play under Mike Krzyzewski, one of the best coaches in basketball history.
Daniel Jeffrey
Editor
We should be clear that Simmons has said he is still committed to playing for the Boomers, probably in 2018, but that the time isn't right yet. I think that's a completely fair decision for a young player to make. Regardless of whether Simmons suited up this time around, 2020 was always going to be a far more legitimate medal shot for the Boomers. While it's unlikely that Andrew Bogut will be around then, Mills, Dellavedova and Ingles will still be in top shape, and young guns like Exum, Simmons, Thon Maker, Isaac Humphries and Ryan Broekhoff will have (hopefully) developed into quality players. In addition to that, the majority of Spain's strong core (the Gasol brothers, Jose Calderon etc.) will be on the way out. 2016 might be disappointing for us, but 2020 is looking very good indeed. Personally, I'm happy to wait a little longer for a genuine gold medal tilt.
Scott Pryde
Expert
I get Simmons is trying to further his career, where you play more than once every four years. But it still seems a bit like a decision of a bloke that is butt hurt after not being selected for the World Cup I think it was. Either way, the Aussies have a strong squad and should go pretty deep into the olympic tournament. Can't wait.
Swampy
Guest
Basketball doesn't like being in the Olympics. The IOC beg them and give FIBA millions and millions to be there. This is the same for soccer, tennis & golf. It is a commercial enterprise - the Olympics as an event for amateurs has long since gone by the wayside. Usain Bolt earns millions of dollars. He's as professional as Stephen Curry.
Patrick Effeney
Editor
It does suck for any Aussie fan. You get the feeling if the Boomers do something special, he'll regret it. Olympic medals are special!
Geoff Parkes
Expert
Which is all fine Swampy, we've been through this plenty of times in the past with Team USA, just let them play where they feel it's important and get it out of the Olympics. And take Tennis and Golf with it.
My2cents
Guest
It's definitely not the best thing for Simmons ( unless he gets drafted by the celtics) teams in the NBA lottery are there for a reason. Usually because they are horribly managed. Any talent development would be pure luck. Playing against guys like team USA, Team Spain, Team France ect all with good NBA players would be much better for Simmons then hanging out all summer in Philly, or LA or PHX. Just look at how much playing for team USA helped Anthony Davis
BigAl
Guest
His decision makes so much sense - as does tha decision to put this article under the US Sports tab.