Aussie NBA star Josh Giddey makes huge call on playing future but Ben Simmons remains a mystery

Rising NBA star Josh Giddey has confirmed his commitment to play for Australia at this year’s FIBA World Cup. 

The Oklahoma City Thunder guard will be joining the likes of Patty Mills, Jock Landale, Joe Ingles, Josh Green, Dyson Daniels, and Matisse Thybulle in representing the green and gold in the tournament set to take place in Indonesia, Japan, and the Philippines in August and September.

Giddey, who is just 20 years old, has been making a name for himself in the NBA since his debut season with the Thunder. 

In his second NBA season, he averaged 16.6 points at a clip of 48.2 per cent, 7.9 rebounds, and 6.2 assists, helping the Thunder to qualify for the play-in tournament. 

He also equalled his career-high with 31 points in a rousing defeat of New Orleans, adding 10 assists and nine rebounds in a statement performance for the Thunder in their 123-118 play-in win.

Giddey had a barnstorming sophomore season in the NBA and has now committed to playing for the Australian Boomers at the FIBA World Cup this year

A teenage Giddey cut his teeth in the Australian NBL with the Adelaide 36ers before he was drafted to the Oklahoma City Thunder in the NBA

Although the Timberwolves ended the Thunder’s playoff hopes in a 120-95 victory, Giddey is still excited to represent Australia in the FIBA World Cup. 

He has always dreamed of representing the Boomers and is looking forward to playing alongside some of the best Australian basketball players in the world.

Giddey believes that this year’s FIBA World Cup may be the most realistic chance that Australia has ever had to win a gold medal. 

‘I think Australian talent is as good as it’s ever been. This World Cup is going to be probably the most real chance we’ve ever had to win a gold medal,’ he said.

‘I’ll definitely be there, and I’m really excited for it.’

With Giddey’s commitment, Australia’s chances of winning the FIBA World Cup have been given a significant boost. 

The Boomers are hoping to take a stacked team, but whether troubled Aussie star Ben Simmons will be joining them is still up in the air.

Andrew Gaze, Australia’s greatest male basketballer, believes it is ‘imperative’ for Simmons to join the Boomers at the World Cup this year. 

The Brooklyn Nets star, who previously pulled out of representing the Boomers at the Tokyo Olympics and the 2019 FIBA World Cup, has had a tough few years in the NBA.

Patty Mills and Matthew Dellavedova are two high profile NBA players that have been integral parts of the Boomers at international tournaments

Australia poses for photos on the podium with their historic bronze medals after beating Slovenia in Tokyo. Giddey believes the team can now go better and win gold at the World Cup

After a disastrous playoff series with the 76ers, Simmons sat out while demanding a trade, before being moved to Brooklyn and subsequently suffering a back injury. 

He returned for the 2022-23 season for the Nets, but his performances have been lacklustre, averaging only seven points, six rebounds and six assists per game.

Gaze believes the Boomer culture and environment would be the perfect place for Simmons to reignite his career this off-season. 

‘I think given the circumstances, if you believe Ben is going to get back to the form he once had, for him personally, if I’m advising Ben Simmons right now, the best thing for him to get out of this situation to help grow your game and to help feel a love for the game again, would be to be a part of the World Cup team,’ Gaze said on SEN earlier this year.

The sight of Ben Simmons sitting on the sideline has become all too common and he has yet to commit to the Boomers at a major tournament

Aussie legend Andrew Gaze broke down on live television when the Boomers won bronze in Tokyo. He believes Ben Simmons could turn his career around by representing Australia

Gaze added that Simmons should be reaching out to Basketball Australia to affirm his desire to play for his country. 

 ‘In the past, it’s been Basketball Australia reaching out to Ben and asking ‘can you do this, can you do this’. If I’m Simmons, I’m now reaching out to Basketball Australia. I need to find that love,’ Gaze said.

‘I need to find a safe environment where I can grow my game and be around people who are going to care for me. That’s not how it is in the NBA. It is different in the NBA. Completely different. You are on an island even though you’ve got teammates.

‘It isn’t like team sports in Australia culturally. It is so far from that it’s just not funny. 

‘For him to come into this environment, to see the game from a different perspective, to get some love from a coach and a teammate where there is far less pressure, far less scrutiny and to re-grow some of those things.

‘To me that is an answer to some of his problems.’