Ben Simmons left out of Australia's preliminary Olympic squad / News - Basketnews.com

Australia's big names were included in the preliminary 22-man Olympic squad picked by coach Brian Goorjian. However, Ben Simmons didn't make the cut once again.

Credit: Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix Credit Getty Images via AFP - Scanpix

Australia announced its preliminary 22-man squad for the Paris Olympics. The lineup will be trimmed by 10 prior to the action starting in July.

Ten players from the Tokyo 2020 Bronze Medal breakthrough have been named including Joe Ingles, Patty Mills, Josh Green, Matisse Thybulle, Dante Exum, Jock Landale, Chris Goulding, Matthew Dellavedova, Duop Reath and Nick Kay.

Boomers Olympics squad

Player Team Xavier Cooks Chiba Jets Funabashi (Japan) Dyson Daniels New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) Matthew Dellavedova Melbourne United (NBL) Dante Exum Dallas Mavericks (NBA) Sam Froling Taranaki Airs (New Zealand) Johnny Furphy Kansas Jayhawks (NCAA) Josh Giddey Oklahoma City Thunder (NBA) Chris Goulding Melbourne United (NBL) Josh Green Dallas Mavericks (NBA) Joe Ingles Orlando Magic (NBA) Nick Kay Shimane Susanoo Magic (Japan) Jock Landale Houston Rockets (NBA) Will Magnay Tasmania JackJumpers (NBL) Will McDowell-White New Zealand Breakers (NBL) Jack McVeigh Tasmania JackJumpers (NBL) Patty Mills Atlanta Hawks (NBA) Keanu Pinder Perth Wildcats (NBL) Duop Reath Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) Matisse Thybulle Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) Dejan Vasiljevic Adelaide 36ers (NBL) Jack White Memphis Grizzlies (NBA) Rocco Zikarsky Brisbane Bullets (NBL)

Teenagers Johnny Furphy and Rocco Zikarsky stand out on the list confirmed by coach Brian Goorjian on Thursday, the squad including 10 players from Australia's Tokyo 2020 bronze medal-winning side as well as current NBA standouts Josh Giddey and Dyson Daniels.

The injured Ben Simmons is now officially out of the frame for a Boomers return after back problems ended the Brooklyn guard's season early. Simmons was all in for the Paris 2024 Olympics until the injury emerged in early 2024.

"I really feel that he’s committed to Australia," Goorjian recently told SEN 1170 Afternoons. "When I met him face to face, he looked me in the eye, and he shook my hand and said, 'I want to be a Boomer.'"

Simmons' commitment has been a hot topic of discussion for Australia as he has yet to suit up for the nation since the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship. He passed up the opportunity to play for them in the Tokyo Olympics as he hoped to "work on his game" after a season in Philadelphia.

Goorjian must narrow his squad to 12 before the Games begin in July, and will have to choose between veterans, like Matthew Dellavedova and other NBL talents like Jack McVeigh, Will Magnay and DJ Vasiljevic.

Australia were drawn in Group A, to face an NBA-stacked Canada and two qualifiers that could include Spain, Slovenia, Greece or Croatia.

"The consensus is that the tournament will be at an unseen level with the talent and international NBA star-power across the teams," Goorjian said.

"I will emphasise and instil with the group that we're not aiming to match or replicate the style of game heading our way from other nations. Our goal is to beat them."

Goorjian will lead the Boomers to a fourth Olympics as head coach and is determined to use learnings from recent performances as a catalyst of evolution.

"We've been actively monitoring the Aussie players across international leagues in USA, Europe and Asia as well as domestically in the NBL and we’re confident in the potential chemistry of this list," added Goorjian.

Notably, two areas addressed in the squad selection have focused on adding versatility and strength of size as well as a depth of shooting talent.

"When Jock Landale went down (at the FIBA World Basketball World Cup) we had to adjust to small ball. It was challenging but ultimately rewarding as we got to trial different packages and get prime minutes into Duop Reath which fast-tracked his development," said Goorjian.

"Looking to the Olympics, we will have Jock Landale available for selection and the added versatility of Kay, Xavier Cooks as well as guys like Will Magnay and Rocco Zikarsky.

The complexity of international tournaments like the Olympics is that you have a relatively short window to train and prepare – so you have to identify and implement a style works fast and amplifies the collective skill set.

There’s always a correlation made of our offensive play with European styles, which is interesting considering there isn't a whole lot of exposure to the Euro system with our players."

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