Ben Simmons will rue not representing Australia at a major tournament after the Philadelphia 76ers star confirmed he would skip the Tokyo Olympics.
That's the opinion of Boomers greats Shane Heal and Chris Anstey.
Simmons has been under the hammer for his inept finish to the NBA season which saw the Australian benched late in playoff games as the 76ers bowed out in the Eastern Conference semi-finals, sparking trade rumours.
The fallout was so fierce that Simmons has now decided to skip the Olympics to focus on his game, and Heal says he wasn't surprised when he heard the news.
"It would have been more of a surprise to me if he played. I'm more shocked that people are shocked he's not playing," Heal told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age.
"There has been nothing that has indicated over lots of years that it's a priority for him to play for the Boomers. He says that he wants to play but it's more of a bucket list thing when it suits him.
"You only play for your national team if you are really passionate about that team, making them better and competing for a medal. There are a lot of sacrifices that are made because it's a long, long season and you need an off-season as well. You sacrifice to be able to do it.
"You see Joey, Patty Mills, [Matthew] Dellavedova and all the guys in the generation before them that were passionate about doing it – you love it, you lock it in and you decide that is what you're going to do.
"He has never shown that same commitment or passion to sacrifice in the off-season and invest in the Boomers and have a desire to want to do it."
Simmons' fall from grace has been steep. SInce he entered the NBA he had been described as the next LeBron James because of the striking similarities in his game. Although, LeBron grew once he got into the league, added a jump shot and fulfilled his potential. With Simmons, it's clear he never worked on adding layers to his game according to Heal.
"When he came out of college and came to the NBA, that was something he said he wanted to develop and everyone said he would have to develop to become one of the true superstars of the NBA," Heal said.
"Over the last three years, it's regressed. He hasn't shown a commitment to do the work day-to-day to give himself confidence to then go and do it during a game.
"He's regressed that far that he doesn't have any confidence at all to shoot outside the key. He was doing that three years ago.
"His shot is broken. He needs a complete overhaul.
"That's done in the gym, doing the basics, day in, day out.
"But he has to commit to that if he really wants to take his game to another level."
Anstey said he would be stunned to see the Aussie return to Philadelphia after the poor end to the season.
"Despite what people think here, this has been Embiid's team for a long time. I don't think Embiid would let Simmons come back," Anstey said.
"Embiid needs space, he needs shooters around him and so does Ben. Look at the team the Bucks have put around Giannis [Antetokounmpo] or the way Draymond Green facilitates at the Warriors.
"It may have come to a head now but I reckon it came to a head when Ben was told he was traded to the Rockets for James Harden and it fell through after he was told.
"That couldn't have possibly helped and I've been told he battled with that. I'd be amazed if he ever played another game for the 76ers."
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