Boomers coach Brian Goorjian gave him an open invitation to attend, just as he did for the Tokyo Olympic preparation.

Simmons made his debut for the Boomers as a teenager in 2013 and tried out for the 2014 FIBA World Cup team, but was cut and has not played for the national team for a variety of reasons. His most recent withdrawals have been due to his injury woes.

Simmons has repeatedly said one of his career goals was to play for Australia at an Olympics and Goorjian, who has known Simmons and his family since his birth, will open the door to the three-time NBA All-Star should the team qualify for Paris.

But he withdrew from the Rio Olympics campaign to focus on his NBA development and wasn’t available for the Tokyo Olympics due to mental health issues.

The Boomers team has transformed since Simmons’ last appearance with nine of the 12 World Cup players on NBA rosters and multiple players with NBA experience left off the roster while players like Josh Giddey, Josh Green, Xavier Cooks and Landale are emerging as new leaders for the national team.

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On the NBA front, Simmons said his previous rehabilitation team did not properly understand his body and he came back to play last season before his body was ready and that was the reason his form was bad.

He said he had a mindset to “kill” (play well) this season and believed he would be back to the form that allowed him to become a three-time NBA All-Star with the Philadelphia 76ers.

“This is the most positive I’ve been, and the best place I’ve been in the last two years, which is exciting,” Simmons said.

Simmons also said he only up to playing two-on-two games at present but expected he would be ready for training camp with the Nets.

Andscape reported that Nets coach Jacques Vaughan has made multiple visits to Simmons and his Miami training base this off-season.

Simmons said he had told Vaughan he felt his best position would still be at point guard and not as a power forward or “small-ball” centre.

“I had people tell me, ‘You need to get to the rim and dunk.’ I’m like, ‘Yo, I can’t even jump off of my knee [last season]. What are you talking about?’.” Simmons said.

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“Things like that frustrate you when you can’t shut somebody up.

“So now, I have the opportunity to bust my a– all summer and come out a different player. That’s all I can do.”

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