Teenage basketball phenomenon Ben Simmons has decided against playing for Australia at this year's Olympics.
The 19-year-old, expected to be the number one pick in June's NBA draft, will focus on his fledgling NBA career instead of wearing green and gold in Rio de Janeiro.
Simmons' US agent Rich Paul, who made the announcement on Friday, did say the Melbourne-born talent is looking forward to playing for the Boomers in the years ahead.
"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," Paul said.
"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."
Simmons is expected to be drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers or the Los Angeles Lakers and sign a rookie contract worth about $US5 million a year.
His team will want him to play in their Summer League squads.
Ironically, if he goes to the 76ers he will be playing under former Australian Olympic coach Brett Brown while the Boomers are attempting to win their first Olympic medal.
Boomers' leader and NBA veteran Andrew Bogut recently said Simmons was "still a little burned" after being left off the Boomers' 2014 World Cup squad.
Bogut also said he would understand if Simmons opted not to play in Rio.
In 2005 when Bogut was the NBA's number one draft pick Australian officials were hoping he would play at a junior world championship but "with draft workouts and stuff it's tough."
The NBA Summer League, where top draft picks usually play their first games for their new teams, begins in Las Vegas on July 8.
The Boomers will hold a camp from July 5 to 10, and the Olympics start on August 5.
Despite his age, Simmons, who's 208cm and can play guard, forward or centre, would have added another dimension to an already talented Australian team.
He averaged 19 points, 12 rebounds and five assists in Louisiana State University's disappointing 2015-16 season.
NBA players Bogut (Golden State Warriors), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs), Aron Baynes (Detroit Pistons), Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz) and Cameron Bairstow (Chicago Bulls) are all keen to suit up for the Boomers.
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