Boomers stars back Ben's green and gold return

Ben Simmons hit the hardwood with his fellow Australian hoops stars on Tuesday, as he attempts to don the Boomers jersey for the first time.

During an interview with Channel 9, the three-time NBA All-Star confirmed his desire to play for the Australian senior men's team, something he has never done.

The 30-year-old didn't just let his words do the talking, performing on the CourtSide Melbourne hardwood during the player-driven Boomers camp.

2024 Olympian and current Chicago Bulls guard Josh Giddey was impressed with what he saw from the 422-game veteran, despite taking the past season off to recover from his injuries.

"He (Simmons) looks really good. He's obviously stayed in shape and has been working out," Josh Giddey said to Channel 9.

"He looked really good today, and I think he'll be back there [in the NBA next season], as that's where he deserves to be."

The NBL Next Star's sentiments were echoed by Atlanta Hawks' Dyson Daniels, who believes Simmons would be a welcome addition to the squad ahead of the 2027 FIBA World Cup and 2028 Olympic Games.

"If he [Simmons] puts his hand up, he'll be there [at next year's World Cup]," Daniels said.

This backs up previous comments by Boomers assistant coach and his godfather Dave Patrick about Simmons' Olympic dream.

"Believe it or not, he wants to wear it, and I think the Olympics is kind of his goal," Boomers assistant and Simmons' godfather Dave Patrick said on basketball.com.au's Cut to the Jase.

"I think as he's got older and matured as all of us do, I think that's one thing he hasn't ticked off the box, playing for his country.

"He played at the youth level, but it's nothing like playing with the Boomers.

"So I think he's on track to try to get healthy mentally and physically, and I think it's something that he will try to do moving forward.

"It'd be an exciting time to hopefully try to get him into LA, but there are some steps in place when you've been out for the year that he has been."

Joining Simmons, Giddey and Daniels at the mini-camp are 20 Australian players including Jock Landale, Patty Mills, Jack McVeigh, Alex Toohey, Lachlan Olbrich, and NBL Next Stars guards Luke Paul and Dash Daniels.