Ben Simmons to play for Australia at 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup

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Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons represents Australia at the 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup, the Australian Basketball Association (ABA) announced on Thursday when unveiling the country's 17-man roster.

It will be Simmons' first time playing for Australia since 2013 when he led the team to a gold medal at the Oceania Championships.

"It was a great day. Amazing. We're very, very excited. The way Ben plays will fit seamlessly into what the Boomers do. I think we're all really excited about the squad now," said Australia assistant coach Adam Caporn.

Ben Simmons (#25) of the Philadelphia 76ers dunks against the Toronto Raptors. /VCG Photo

Though he is only 22 years old, Simmons is already one of Philadelphia's cornerstone players. Having won the 2018 Rookie of the Year Award, Simmons further improved his performance to 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, 7.7 assists and 1.4 steals per game in the 2018-19 season. He also played in his first All-Star Game.

Simmons will be joined by several NBA players in China, including: Aron Baynes (Boston Celtics), Andrew Bogut (Golden State Warriors), Jonah Bolden (Philadelphia 76ers), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), Joe Ingles (Utah Jazz) and Patty Mills (San Antonio Spurs).

Though the ABA wanted to invite Thon Maker of the Detroit Pistons, the Pistons hoped that, instead of participating in international competitions, Maker can focus on training in the offseason to prepare for the upcoming NBA season.

Ryan Broekhoff of the Mavericks and Dante Exum of the Jazz will miss the World Cup, too, but for different reasons. Broekhoff wanted to stay with his wife for their first child. Exum was held back by a partially torn patellar tendon.

(From left to right) Patty Mills of the San Antonio Spurs, Joe Ingles of the Utah Jazz, Jonah Bolden of the Philadelphia 76ers, Andrew Bogut of the Golden State Warriors, Matthew Dellavedova of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Aron Baynes of the Boston Celtics are all on Australia's 17-man national team. /VCG Photo

Australia's Boomers have never made the final four at the Basketball World Cup (World Championship) but this time they may have the chance to change that. Ingles called their squad the strongest ever and even eyed for the title.

"Since I've been involved I feel like we've got better and stronger as we've progressed through the last few Olympics and world championships. This is such an exciting group and we're confident we can do something special and bring a gold medal home and be the first team to do that," said Ingles.

Australia is in Group H with Canada, Senegal and Lithuania in Dongguan of south China's Guangdong Province. Their first game will be against Canada on September 1.