Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has reiterated that Ben Simmons is “part of our family,” as his critics circle at home and abroad.
Simmons was on Wednesday asked to leave Philadelphia practice after refusing to participate in a drill, inflaming tensions with the organisation.
“One of the things that grabbed me the most about being an Australian is the difference between mateship and friendship,” Goorjian told SEN Breakfast.
“When you’re somebody’s mate, it’s for life and you stand by him through thick and thin.”
Goorjian reiterated his disappointment that Simmons didn’t link up with the Boomers for the Tokyo Olympics, where he feels the 25-year-old would have been embraced.
“I wish Ben could have been a part of our thing, and experienced that, and got some enjoyment leading into the next step,” he lamented.
“I can only speak about my time, and our time with Ben Simmons, and through this whole process.
“My brother coached him when he was at Box Hill, we’ve been a part of his career, our family have followed him, I knew the father well.
“The process of going through the Boomers, I know he wasn’t a part of it but how he handled himself through the whole thing, he was nothing but class.
“This kid is a very, very good human being, and he’s a very, very good basketball player.
“He’s a tremendous talent, and a tremendous person, and I’m very much looking forward to when he starts representing the Boomers and being a part of our thing.”
The six-time NBL championship coach pleaded with Philadelphia to find a way to re-integrate Simmons, or find him a new home.
“I look at it and go god, man, please fix this and let this kid blossom,” Goorjian said.
“It looks unattainable right now, though I don’t know that you can do anything other than (the 76ers) did.
“You’ve got a guy who needs to be moved, how do you move him?
“That it’s at this point is horrible, and I don’t have an answer to how you deal with a situation like that.”
Goorjian asked the Australian public to be patient with the three-time All-Star.
“He’s one of ours,” he implored.
“He’s special, and he’s a tremendous talent, and I would love and I hope that the opportunity presents itself or he gets to a situation where he can show who he is.
“He’s also a very good teammate. He’s been criticised… (but) he’s conscious of getting other people involved in the game. It’s what he does.
“It’s not my situation, but I look at the kid as being part of our family.”