As Ben Simmons endures a nervous wait to find out if he'll be named an NBA All-Star, his Boomers teammates have been put on hold over whether he'll play for Australia at this year's World Cup in China.
Simmons, after leading the Philadelphia 76ers to a lopsided 121-105 win over the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday, said he's yet to make a decision about suiting up for the Boomers in August.
Australia, loaded with NBA talent, are desperate to breakthrough with a historic first medal at a major international championship.
"Not yet," Simmons said when asked by AAP whether he'd made a decision about his World Cup participation.
"I don't know. I have no idea. I don't even know what I'm having for dinner."
If Simmons commits to the World Cup he would be expected to play in the exhibition series between the Boomers and Team USA in Melbourne on August 22 and 24.
He is due to sign a potential five-year, $A200 million-plus contract extension in the NBA off-season and the risk of injury in Melbourne and China could threaten the deal.
Simmons displayed his elite NBA talent on Tuesday with 19 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the demolition of an injury-depleted Lakers in Los Angeles.
The Lakers were without leader LeBron James and starters Lonzo Ball and Kyle Kuzma.
The 76ers' Australian rookie Jonah Bolden was also out with a sore right Achilles.
Simmons was named on Tuesday to his second straight Rising Stars game for next month's All-Star weekend in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The game involves the NBA's best rookie and second-year players, with Simmons leading Team World against a US squad.
Simmons will learn on Friday AEDT if he is selected to play in the main event All-Star game featuring James, Steph Curry, James Harden and the NBA's other elite players.
Simmons was snubbed last year.
76ers coach Brett Brown, who would like to see Simmons play in the World Cup, described the Australian as a "unicorn" who was more than worthy of All-Star selection.
"He is an NBA All-Star," Brown said.
"You don't bang out numbers that he bangs out, in my opinion, without being one."
Brown, a former Boomers head and assistant coach, also said the athletic Bolden was ready to play for the Boomers at the World Cup and would fill a crucial place as a power forward.
Brown said it is a position Australia has been thin at in past World Cup and Olympics.
"I think he is an international four man," Brown said.
"As I judge the history of Australian basketball, especially that important position, I think he can be that."
