Ben Simmons Eyes NBA Return and Australian Boomers Debut for 2028 Olympics

Three-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons remains a chance to play for the Australian Boomers at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, according to comments shared by assistant coach David Patrick on the podcast basketball.com.au. Simmons, who has not represented Australia since 2013, is aiming for a major international return following a series of back injuries and stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

Fantasy & Market Impact

• Depth Chart Realities: Should Simmons regain full physical health, his playmaking profile would slot alongside young Australian anchors like Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.

The Path Back to the Green and Gold

Ben Simmons remains a chance to finally wear the green and gold for the Australian Boomers at the upcoming Los Angeles Olympic Games, ending what would be a 15-year absence from the national team. The 29-year-old former Rookie of the Year has not played for the Boomers since the FIBA Oceania Championships back in 2013 as a 17-year-old. He notably missed the historic bronze medal campaign at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021.

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Speaking on an episode of Cut to the Jase, Boomers assistant coach and Simmons’ godfather, David Patrick, shed light on the player’s internal motivation. Patrick detailed that representing his country remains a significant box left unchecked in an eventful career.

“Believe it or not, he wants to wear it and I think the Olympics is kind of his goal,” Patrick said on the basketball.com.au podcast. “I think as he’s got older and matured like all of us do, I think that’s one thing he hasn’t ticked off the box, playing for his country. He played in the youth level, but it’s nothing like playing with the Boomers.”

Evaluating the Timeline and Injury Reality

Simmons is currently taking a year away from basketball following a severe back injury that limited him to just 118 games across his final four NBA seasons with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers. His last competitive NBA appearance came for the Clippers on May 30, last year. Away from the court, Simmons has kept busy outside the sport, recently becoming the controlling owner of the South Florida Sails in the Sport Fishing Championship, where his team captured the 2026 SFC Walker’s Cay Open over the weekend.

Yet, the physical demands of returning to elite-tier basketball require navigating a stringent rehabilitation process. Patrick emphasized that while the desire is absolute, the physical hurdles are real. “So I think he’s on track to trying to get healthy mentally and physically, and I think it’s something that he will try to do moving forward,” Patrick noted via basketball.com.au. “It’d be an exciting time to hopefully try to get him into LA, but there’s some steps in place when you’ve been out for the year that he has been.”

Weighing the Legacy and Career Narrative

Drafted with the number one overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft amidst comparisons to legends like Magic Johnson and LeBron James, Simmons has faced heavy scrutiny. Playoff struggles, an acrimonious exit from the Philadelphia 76ers, and extended injury absences have led critics to label portions of his professional trajectory a disappointment.

Photo: basketball.com.au

Patrick, however, pushed back against the narrative surrounding his godson’s career achievements. “I was having to do an interview the other week about him, and people (say it was) a disappointment, and I’m like, I don’t know, I don’t know if it’s a disappointment or not, three-time all-star sounds pretty good to me,” Patrick stated on basketball.com.au.

Ben Simmons Career Snapshot & National Team Context

Metric / Milestone	Status / Detail
NBA Draft Position	No. 1 Overall (2016)
Accolades	3x NBA All-Star, Rookie of the Year, 2x All-Defensive First Team
Last Boomers Appearance	2013 FIBA Oceania Championships (Age 17)
Target International Event	LA28 Olympic Games

Whether Simmons can successfully transition from his current hiatus back into competitive hardwood shape remains to be seen. But the explicit declaration of his intent to pull on the green and gold opens a fascinating new chapter for Australian basketball as the program plans its long-term roster architecture toward Los Angeles.