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Simmons confirms he won't play Rio

Australia's No.1 draft pick Ben Simmons says that even if he had the blesssing of his new NBA coach Brett Brown he won't consider the Olympics.

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Source: AAP


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Even if he could get the blessing of his new coach Brett Brown, NBA No.1 draft pick Ben Simmons has ruled out representing Australia at the Rio Olympics.

Simmons declared earlier this year he was unavailable for Rio as he needed to focus on establishing his NBA career.

There was a slim hope that Simmons could change his mind after Friday's draft in New York if he had the backing of Brown and the Philadelphia 76ers who selected him.

Brown was the Boomers coach at the last Olympics in London, when the Australian team was eliminated in the quarter-finals by gold medallists USA.

But the 19-year-old confirmed he wouldn't consider playing in Rio in August but intended to play at future Olympics.

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"I think for me right now I need to focus on the next season," Simmons said.

"It's a big step for me going into the NBA as a rookie but I look forward to definitely playing in an Olympic Games."

Fellow NBA player Dante Exum is already out of Rio as he continues his comeback following knee surgery while star centre Andrew Bogut is only a slim chance of appearing during the campaign after hurting his knee during the NBA Finals.

Simmons said he still believed the Boomers could challenge for a medal.

"Of course, they've got a team, they've got players so they're able to win games.

"You've got Patty (Mills), maybe Bogut, Delly (Matthew Dellavedova) - they've got a young team who can really compete," he said.

"As long as you play hard anything can happen."


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