FORMER NBL star Corey Williams doesn\u2019t think the Boomers should select Ben Simmons for the 2023 FIBA World Cup next August.<\/p>\n
While Simmons is perhaps the most talented basketballer Australia has ever produced, he\u2019s yet to suit up for the national team after opting not to join the Boomers for the Tokyo Olympics.<\/p>\n
With many believing Australia are in the midst of a golden basketball generation, the addition of Simmons could be the spark that helps the side win gold at a World Cup or Olympics after they claimed bronze in Tokyo.<\/p>\n
While Simmons at his best is an NBA All-Star, Williams doesn\u2019t think Australia should select him as he battles form issues with Brooklyn after missing the entirety of last NBA season.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t think he\u2019ll play, I don\u2019t think he\u2019ll be a Boomer at the next World Cup,\u201d Williams said on SEN\u2019s The Run Home<\/em>.<\/p>\n \u201cLook, this team is stacked, and I also feel he hasn\u2019t played enough in the last year to year and a half.<\/p>\n \u201cHe shouldn\u2019t jump into it, that\u2019s too much pressure, especially after Australia got a medal [in Tokyo].\u201d<\/p>\n Williams thinks the Boomers must keep the cohesion and consistency that saw them medal in Tokyo while adding that Simmons may not be ready to jump into a situation where the pressure will be on him to make the team better.<\/p>\n \u201cNow it\u2019s like, we need to keep the consistency,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n \u201cSo, if you\u2019re jumping on that team now when you\u2019re not healthy yet and there\u2019s still a lot of things you need to overcome in terms of your professional career in the NBA.<\/p>\n \u201cMentally to jump into a whole other situation that\u2019s going to add to the pressure you\u2019d be under, not ready yet or not time yet.\u201d<\/p>\n Williams said Australia and Simmons instead should focus on getting the former number one draft pick ready for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he would want to play when it\u2019s time for the biggest stage in the world which is the Olympics, Paris, it\u2019s way bigger than the World Cup,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I\u2019m going to try and play for the Boomers, me if I was him\u2026 I\u2019d try to go when it\u2019s time for Paris in 2024.\u201d<\/p>\n The 2023 FIBA Basketball World Cup kicks off next year on November 25, with Indonesia, Japan and the Philippines hosting.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n