Did Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons really had a hand in the firing of Australian Boomers head coach Andrej Lemanis? A panel of Australian commentators certainly thinks so, after news broke that Sixers head coach Brett Brown will be taking over the coaching reigns Down Under in the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games.
Panelists from OffSiders ABC lambasted the 23-year-old Melbourne-native and claimed that his irreparable relationship with the Brisbane Bullets head coach cost him his post.
ABC reporter Catherine Murphy even took a dig at Simmons’ personal life, referencing his past relationship with reality star Kendall Jenner.
“How do you date a Kardashian when you haven’t scored a three-pointer yet?” she said.
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Simmons pledged to suit up for the Boomers in the FIBA Basketball World Cup but surprisingly pulled out just days before the tournament. The Australian team had a terrific start in the tourney, but struggled down the stretch and narrowly missed out on a podium finish.
Now that his Sixers head coach is in charge, Simmons has publicly declared himself available for the Boomers in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in Japan.
Lemanis, meanwhile, has been at the helm of the Boomers since 2003 and is responsible for the team's recent ascent in the international basketball scene. He is well revered by other Aussie NBA players like Patty Mills, Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavadova, and Aaron Baynes, but has failed to create an amicable relationship with the country’s premiere star, Simmons.
Simmons is averaging 13.1 points, 6.5 rebounds, 7.9 assists and 2.3 steals for the Sixers in 14 games played this season. Philly is currently 5th in the East with an 11-5 record.
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