Those following Ben Simmons on Instagram will have seen he is back in the gym and working toward his return to the court.
In recent weeks, Simmons has posted images of him working out both at HSS Training Center in Brooklyn and the University of Miami gym, but none of him on the court. He is seen working together with Craig Turner, a former strength coach during Simmons’ time with the Philadelphia 76ers and the current head of basketball performance at the University of Pennsylvania.
This, combined with Simmons’ new agent, Bernie Lee, told the New York Post two weeks ago that the Aussie had been cleared to move to the next stage of his rehab and is “progressing really well.”
After missing the second half of the season due to knee and back injuries, the Nets big man posted several pictures of himself training in recent weeks.
After missing the 2021-22 season, Simmons underwent a microdiscectomy on a bulging disk last offseason. He then struggled to return to form in the first half of 2022-23 with Brooklyn, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists in 42 appearances.
The 26-year-old missed three extended periods during that span while dealing with knee and calf ailments. He was then sidelined during the All-Star break and eventually shut down due to a nerve impingement in his back.
Boomers head coach Ben Goorjian has been clear Simmons has a spot on the team if he is able to get himself healthy and feels there is a really strong chance that he plays.
“I think his (Ben’s) mindset is getting healthy, getting in shape and getting ready to play in this (World Cup),” Goorjian told SEN last week.
“And I think he has been along that line for a while and I felt it last time.
“There were unfortunate circumstances (why he didn’t play at Tokyo), but I feel like he is going to make himself available.”
Goorjian has also been clear on the impact he feels Ben can make on the team, citing the concern he has around the lack of size the team currently has which Ben could certainly help with.
“The ball is in his hands, and you are going to give him the freedom to do that. Then defensively he is a very good defender. He can guard multiple positions and for us possibly five.
“One of the things we’re talking about heading into this (World Cup) is what we’re going to do to the opposition and their bigs, and he (Ben) would be very helpful there.”
Furthermore, since then Simmons has confirmed his desire to return to the international stage with Australia, declaring he looks forward to donning the green and gold via an interview with The Herald Sun.
“I’m currently rehabilitating my back injury and putting my full effort and focus towards that,” Simmons said.
“I love what coach Goorjian is building with the Boomers and I look forward to being part of the program in the future.”
It’s unclear at what stage the Boomers will need a hard answer from Simmons, but he was not named on the preliminary 18-man roster that was announced in May, and the team will need to have been selected at least a week prior to the beginning of the Boomers camp for World Cup selection which opens August 1 in Cairns.
Simmons has not played for the Boomers since the 2013 Oceania Qualifiers against New Zealand, and donning the green and gold would be a gruelling exercise for someone who has faced issues with his back and undergoing multiple treatments for it for almost three years now.
Boomers training camp runs from August 1 through 10, then the Aussies will participate in a four-team exhibition tournament between August 14 and 17, taking on Brazil, Venezuela and South Sudan.
Their first World Cup game is scheduled for August 25 in Okinawa (Japan), and if the team makes the medal rounds, this would require playing in nine games in under three weeks.
A public decision from Simmons camp is expected within the next week or two.
Dan Boyce is a die-hard Sydney Kings fan who grew up in Melbourne during the roaring 90's of Australian Basketball and spent far too much time collecting Futera NBL Basketball cards.
