Ben Simmons Training With Australian Boomers Sparks NBA Buzz

Ben Simmons is back on a basketball court with some of Australia’s top players, and the footage has quickly caught fans’ attention.

The 30-year-old guard-forward is training in Melbourne with members of the Australian Boomers as he works toward a possible NBA return and a place in Australia’s plans for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Simmons has appeared in plenty of offseason workout videos over the years. This latest session, however, has renewed discussion about whether he can finally put his recent injury and form problems behind him.

Simmons Back in Training

Simmons recently shared a shirtless workout photo that showed a noticeably lean and muscular physique. Soon after, footage emerged of him taking part in a Melbourne training session with several Australian basketball stars.

Courtside Melbourne posted footage featuring Dyson Daniels, Jock Landale, Matthew Dellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Alex Toohey, Luke Travers, Johnny Furphy and Jack White. Dash Daniels, regarded as one of Australia’s leading NBA draft prospects, also joined the scrimmage.

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Josh Giddey was absent while recovering from ankle surgery.

Simmons moved comfortably around the court in gray sweatpants and knocked down several jump shots. His left-handed shooting motion still attracted plenty of attention, but his movement and overall conditioning stood out.

That combination has made the footage familiar to basketball fans. Similar offseason clips have surfaced in previous years before injuries or poor form interrupted his progress during the NBA season.

Fans React to the Footage

The video quickly spread across social media, with fans offering a mix of excitement, support and skepticism.

Bleacher Report noted that Simmons was back on the court shooting with Australia’s men’s national team while pursuing an NBA comeback, with several teams reportedly interested.

NBACentral also highlighted his shooting, posting that Simmons’ jumper was “looking smooth.”

Boomers Fandom took a more humorous approach, calling it “the annual Ben Simmons off-season jump-shot video.”

Yahoo Sports’ Kevin O’Connor remained less convinced. He joked about his favorite part of the NBA offseason being videos of Simmons “shooting with the wrong hand.”

Fans also focused on his physical condition and the support from his Australian teammates. One supporter welcomed the possibility of his return, while another praised how good Simmons looked physically. A separate comment highlighted Dellavedova wearing his mouthguard during the session.

The reactions showed the same split that has followed Simmons in recent years: optimism about his talent, mixed with caution because of what happened before.

Simmons Wants to Play for Australia

Simmons was in positive spirits during Tuesday’s training session and made his intentions clear. He wants to represent the Boomers.

“That’s why I’m here,” Simmons said. “It’s a long way to fly just to just to not do it.”

Boomers coach Adam Caporn also sees a potential path for Simmons to return to the national team.

“If you ask me, ‘do I see a potential for him to be a Boomer?’ — Absolutely,” Caporn told Code Sports.

Australia already has several established NBA players in the mix. Last year, former Boomers star Andrew Bogut told news.com.au that he viewed Giddey, Daniels and Landale as likely starters for the 2028 Olympics, with other positions still open.

“You’ll have Giddey and Dyson. Jock will be the ‘five’. As of today, I’d love to have Matisse (Thybulle) back in the fold,” Bogut said.

Bogut also identified the small forward position as an area where Australia could use another reliable shooter. He mentioned Josh Green and Johnny Furphy as possible options, along with any player who can develop into a dependable perimeter threat.

Simmons’ NBA Career Took a Sharp Turn

Instagram | @bensimmons | Simmons backed up his status as Philadelphia’s top 2016 draft pick with an impressive early NBA career.

Simmons entered the NBA with enormous expectations after being selected No. 1 overall by Philadelphia in 2016. His early career justified much of that attention.

During his first three seasons, Simmons averaged at least 15.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game each season. He also earned first-team All-Defensive honors twice during that stretch.

His trajectory changed during his fourth season. A difficult playoff series against the Heat became a major turning point, followed by a prolonged decline in confidence and availability.

Simmons eventually sought a trade from Philadelphia and was sent to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal involving James Harden. His struggles continued in Brooklyn, including a widely discussed reluctance to attack the basket even when open.

Injuries then became another major obstacle, limiting his ability to establish consistent rhythm and availability.

Miami Could Be an Option

If Simmons returns to the NBA, Miami has been mentioned as one possible destination. Simmons has previously spoken positively about the Heat organization and coach Erik Spoelstra.

“Miami would be nice. And not because it’s Miami,” Simmons said. “I like Erik Spoelstra, I like the Heat, I like their organisation, I like the culture.”

A return would still depend on his health, shooting, defensive impact and ability to contribute consistently over a full NBA season.

Simmons’ next challenge will be proving that the progress seen in Melbourne can carry into competitive basketball. His focus now is on staying healthy, sharpening his game and earning another NBA opportunity.

His national-team ambitions also remain clear. With the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics ahead, strong performances could put him back into consideration for the Boomers.

The Melbourne session has put Simmons back in the spotlight. His next NBA move and future with Australia will depend on how consistently he performs once meaningful games begin.