Basketball news 2023: Ben Simmons keen on representing Australian Boomers at 2024 Paris Olympics, Br
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Ben Simmons has signaled his intention to represent Australia at the Olympics, saying he is ready to "go back and dominate the people" after overcoming his injury problems. Simmons' once promising career has come to a huge halt in the past few seasons due to debilitating back injuries that have left him a shadow of his former self. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2021-22 season and was limited to just 42 games last season; He worked hard in the matches, recording career-low levels in all major statistical categories. READ World Cup kiss scandal explodes READ Legend's brutal Latrell warning amid text scandal Simmons' injury problems meant missed the Boomers' historic bronze medal fight two years ago in Tokyo, but he said was "100 percent" willing to join the team in Paris. He has yet to represent Australia since he was selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft. Simmons says he's '100 percent' after the previous two seasons were ruined by permanent back injuries I want to play," he told ESPN Andascape. Jock Landale is playing right now.' Simmons has become the popular target of criticism after his bad departure from Philadelphia, and admitted to being "shabby" at times when dealing with back problems last season. To recuperate, the three-time NBA All-Star began a rigorous off-season training regimen five hours of different types exercise, five days a week. "The thing in the back was no joke," he said. Simmons starred as Patty Mills, leading Australia to their first men's basketball Olympic medal in Tokyo in 2021 “It affected everything I did. Driving, sitting, trying to move. I didn't realize how much it affected me. It was like two different people. “Off the court, just everyday things. Waking up, getting up. Getting out of bed was difficult because I usually had pain. “I was getting tense, then stiff, and I had nerve damage running down my leg, so I was feeling it in my leg. "The normal stuff you wouldn't think would be a problem can be a little frustrating, it just kept building and building building." Simmons believes he is "100 percent ready now" for next season, and said his current version will dominate the version that hit the scene last year. “It will be great for me to come back and dominate people,” he said. Simmons records career-low levels in all major stats categories in 42 games for the Nets last season "I don't plan on going back to the player I was last season, because that's nowhere near where I am. get excited because said, 'Damn, ed up the player was last year.' But I know where I was last year, so it's easy to say. "The worst part about for me was that couldn't do something and people kept talking about it, and it wasn't because you weren't talented, was just because were injured. People told me, 'You have to go to the basket and dunk'. I was like, 'Hey, off my knee. I can't even jump in. What are you talking about?' That kind of thing disappoints you when you can't silence someone." Incredibly, despite harsh criticism fr