Ben Simmons will not participate in Australia’s campaign in the upcoming 2023 FIBA World Cup.
According to ESPN, the 26-year-old came to a joint decision with the Brooklyn Nets this week to not play in the tournament.
Simmons will instead focus on rehabilitating the back injury that limited him to just 42 games in the 2022-23 NBA season.
The Net hasn’t represented the Australian national team since the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship, however Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian indicated earlier this year that he was optimistic Simmons would join the campaign.
Things looked less certain when Simmons wasn’t included in Australia’s extended 18-man squad ahead of their August training camp, yet it was expected that he would be added should he commit to the tournament.
ESPN stated that the expectation for Simmons is now to target the 2024 Paris Olympics for his Boomers return, more than 10 years since he last suited up in the green and gold.
The Aussies are looking to make a deep run into the World Cup, building off their bronze medal finish at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
The Boomers will face off against Germany, Finland and Japan to kick off the tournament’s group stage, which is set to get underway on August 25.