Ben Simmons Won't Play for Australia at Rio Olympics: Comments, Reaction

LSU Tigers star Ben Simmons hasn't ruled out playing for Australia at some point in the future, but his agent, Rich Paul, confirmed that the 19-year-old won't represent his country at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, per ESPN's Chris Broussard.

Paul released a statement, per Broussard:

"

Ben Simmons will postpone playing with the Australian Olympic team this summer in order to concentrate fully on his NBA activities following the upcoming 2016 NBA draft. Australian Olympic Team training and competition takes place at the same time as the various NBA summer development programs, and therefore, Ben will look forward to his national team participation at some time later in his career.

"

Australia head coach Andrej Lemanis included Simmons on his extended roster for the Olympics in March, but it was never a guarantee that he'd be available to play.

In August, Simmons commented on potentially playing for the Boomers, per Roy Ward of the Age (h/t the Sydney Morning Herald):

"

If it's a good situation I would definitely love to do that and I definitely want to play in an Olympic Games before I'm done playing—it's definitely a goal.

Soon as I finish college, this first season, I don't know where I will be. I might be another year in college or I might be in the NBA—I'm not sure.

So if it fits in perfectly with the timing, then I would love to do it.

"

Simmons averaged 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds per game for the Tigers this year. In March, he announced that he would enter the 2016 NBA draft.

He is one of the best prospects in this year's class, and he's a good bet to go No. 1 overall. In his most recent mock draft, Bleacher Report's Jonathan Wasserman slotted Simmons in as the first pick to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Playing in the Olympics likely wouldn't have jeopardized Simmons' stock, since the games take place after the June 23 draft. Still, one can understand why his focus would be firmly on the NBA season ahead rather than international competition.

Simmons will likely play in the NBA Summer League, which will be underway while international teams are making their final preparations for the Olympics.

The Boomers will be able to count on a few NBA stars—such as Cleveland Cavaliers point guard Matthew Dellavedova, Golden State Warriors center Andrew Bogut and San Antonio Spurs point guard Patty Mills—when they head to Rio de Janeiro.

Even without Simmons, Australia should have a strong chance to collect its first Olympic medal on the hardwood.