Gaze selects his 'World Cup smokey'

Earlier this month, more than 20 of the country's top men's basketballers congregated in Melbourne for a player-led Boomers camp.

Headlining the players in attendance were NBA stars Josh Giddey, Dyson Daniels and Jock Landale.

The other name that everyone was talking about was three-time NBA All Star Ben Simmons.

The first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, who had the past NBA season off to recover from injuries, turned plenty of heads during the CourtSide Melbourne camp.

So much so, Boomers legend Andrew Gaze believes Simmons, who stated his desire to debut for the senior national men's team, should represent the green and gold at the 2027 FIBA World Cup.

"My smokey pick to make the Boomers next year in the World Cup is Ben Simmons," Gaze said to NBL Media.

"We've been hoping for many, many years he'd pull on a green and gold jersey.

"It appears as though he's rekindled his desire, and motivation to play at the highest level.

"Hopefully, we can see him at his best, and representing the Boomers."

Gaze's comments follow those of potential teammate Giddey, who believes the 2020 All NBA Third Team selection would be an asset to the Boomers.

"He looks really good, that's the first thing I noticed when I saw him," Giddey told 9 News Adelaide's Will Crouch.

"Obviously he hasn't played professional basketball for probably the last year or so, but he's stayed in shape by continuing to work out; he looked really good at the camp.

"He's still got soft hands, while being powerful, explosive and getting downhill whenever he wants.

"Ben knows we always want him part of the green and gold, and if he wants to be there, he puts his hand up [to play]; he's going to be in the team.

"Hopefully he is, as he's going to be a massive part of what we do going forward.

"I'm confident he'll be there at the next big tournament."

Current and past Boomers including Daniels, Landale and Andrew Bogut, as well as head coach Adam Caporn, have also thrown their support behind Simmons playing for Australia at both the World Cup but also the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.