Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsSYDNEY, Aug 30 (Reuters) - All Star forward Ben Simmons says he wants to play for Australia at the Paris Olympics next year, ending a decade-long absence from the Boomers team. "To me, I'm going to play when I'm ready. Melbourne-born Simmons said he had not yet informed Basketball Australia of his intentions and fans Down Under might be forgiven for not getting too excited. The three-times NBA All Star has frequently committed to playing for the land of his birth at the Olympics and World Cups over the last nine years only to later withdraw. Australia, bronze medallists at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, will qualify for the Paris Olympics if they achieve a better finish than New Zealand at the ongoing World Cup in the Philippines, Japan and Indonesia.

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Persons: Ben Simmons, JaKarr Sampson, Mike DiNovo, hasn't, I've, Simmons, Nick Mulvenney, Robert Birsel Organizations: Philadelphia 76ers, Chicago Bulls, United Center, Rights, Australia, Paris Olympics, Boomers, Brooklyn Nets, NBA, Olympic, Basketball Australia, Star, Tokyo, Thomson Locations: Chicago , IL, USA, Melbourne, Australia, New Zealand, Philippines, Japan, Indonesia