Free agent forward Ben Simmons is set to participate in a player-led Australian men’s basketball team minicamp in Melbourne with zero restrictions
, eyeing an NBA return and a spot in the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics after missing the 2025-26 season to recover from injuries.
Free agent forward Ben Simmons is preparing for a significant basketball comeback. The 30-year-old player is scheduled to be a full participant with zero restrictions
at a private, player-led minicamp for the Australian men’s basketball team starting Monday in Melbourne, according to reporting from ESPN Andscape.
Simmons spent the entire 2025-26 NBA season sidelined to fully recover from persistent back and physical injuries. His last professional stint came during the 2024-25 season, when he signed with the LA Clippers in February 2025 after being waived by the Brooklyn Nets. During that stretch, he appeared in 18 regular-season contests and another five playoff games for Los Angeles.
NBA Interest and Western Conference Offer
Despite missing an entire campaign, Simmons has drawn attention from multiple franchises. Several NBA teams have expressed interest in signing the four-time All-Star, who remains open to accepting a minimum contract according to ESPN Basketball Insider Olgun Uluc and Marc J. Spears. One source indicated that a Western Conference team has already placed a non-guaranteed minicamp offer on the table.
Simmons paid his own way to travel to Melbourne for this week’s player-led sessions alongside fellow Australian Boomers. David Patrick, an Arizona State assistant coach, national team assistant, and Simmons’ godfather, noted that the player has successfully regained his athleticism while working out primarily at his home base in Miami.
Long-Term Ambitions for the Boomers and the 2028 Olympics
Beyond securing a new NBA home, Simmons harbors clear international goals. The Melbourne native hopes to represent the Australian national team during the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Although he played for Australia as a 17-year-old at the 2013 FIBA Men’s Oceania Championships, he did not participate in the subsequent three Olympic Games despite consistent projections as a premier talent.
As the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft and the 2018 Rookie of the Year, Simmons built an impressive resume early in his professional career. He secured three consecutive All-Star selections from 2019 to 2021, earned an All-NBA third-team nod in 2020, and captured two All-Defensive first-team selections in 2020 and 2021. However, chronic back problems heavily disrupted his trajectory, limiting him to fewer than 60 games in every season following the 2018-19 campaign.
With a clean bill of health and unrestricted participation at the Melbourne minicamp, Simmons aims to prove to prospective NBA front offices and national team selectors that he is ready to contribute at the highest level once again.
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