Ben Simmons will miss FIBA World Cup 2023 / News - Basketnews.com

Ben Simmons won't play in FIBA World Cup 2023 for Australia, as he is focusing on the next season. The Aussie hasn't played five-on-five basketball since February 15th, as he was diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his back.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix, FIBA Credit USA TODAY Sports-Scanpix, FIBA

Ben Simmons will not participate in the FIBA World Cup 2023 starting in August, according to Nets Daily.

Ben Simmons

Position:SF, PFAge:27Height:208 cmWeight:104 kgBirth place:AustraliaProfileNewsStatistics

Despite this, the Brooklyn Nets remain optimistic about his ability to regain top form in the upcoming season.

Per the same report, the Nets and Simmons have mutually agreed that it wouldn't be beneficial for the player to cut short his rehabilitation period for his back and nerve issues by three weeks.

The decision was finalized earlier in the week. Recently, Simmons has been diligently training and working out at the University of Miami alongside Royce O'Neale and David Duke Jr., among others.

Simmons was missing in the Australian Boomers' extended 18-man roster announced in May.

Australia 18-man roster

Player Team Xavier Cooks Washington Wizards Dyson Daniels New Orleans Pelicans Matthew Dellavedova Sacramento Kings Dante Exum Partizan Mozzart Bet Belgrade Sam Froling Levanga Hokkaido Josh Giddey Oklahoma City Thunder Josh Green Dallas Mavericks Chris Goulding Paris Basketball Joe Ingles Milwaukee Bucks Nick Kay Shimane Susanoo Magic Jock Landale Phoenix Suns Thon Maker Fujian Sturgeons Will McDowell-White New Zealand Breakers Patty Mills Brooklyn Nets Keanu Pinder Fuenlabrada Duop Reath Al Riyadi Beirut Matisse Thybulle Philadelphia 76ers Jack White Denver Nuggets/Grand Rapids Gold

The World Cup squad features a record number of NBA players and Tokyo bronze medallists.

For the first time, the Boomers have ten current NBA players on their team, including Patty Mills, Matisse Thybulle, Joe Ingles, Jock Landale, Josh Green, Matthew Dellavedova, Xavier Cooks, Jack White, Dyson Daniels, and Josh Giddey.

The 2023 FIBA World Cup runs from August 25 to September 10 and, for the first time, will be co-hosted between three nations -- The Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia.

Australia ended up in Group E with Finland, Germany, and Japan, with the games to be played in Okinawa.

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