Basketball On The Internet.

BEN Simmons making the call last Saturday he would miss the Rio Olympic Games in favour of potential requirements of the NBA team which drafts him was a smart decision.

Despite the Conspiracy Theory Specialists (hereinafter referred to as the “CTS”) lining up to point the finger at Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis, truth is Big Ben giving the Boomers the gong was almost inevitable.

Simmons, 19, is likely to receive a $US25million deal on his first multi-year NBA contract and there’s speculation he could land a shoe deal worth anything between $US50-$US100 million.

Realistically, the needs of your employer, when that employer is investing millions in you, come over the needs of a national team on which you may only, realistically, be a role player this time around.

When Simmons’ agent, Rich Paul, announced his client would focus on “NBA activities” over pursuing a Boomers roster spot, the CTS – including some sections of the media – were quick to read that instead as some sort of rejection of Lemanis.

Say what?

Some members of the CTS even had Simmons down to play for the USA sometime in the future. Um...yes ... as in, perhaps, NEVER.

Lemanis suited Simmons as a Boomer at 2013’s Oceania Series against New Zealand for FIBA World Cup qualification.

When Simmons wasn’t selected for the 2014 World Cup team – the 17-year-old made it to the last cut – he naturally was upset. The CTS claim that has coloured his thinking now.

Really? He’d pass up an Olympics because he’s miffed he missed the cut two years ago?

“That’s what makes great players great,” Lemanis said today.

“They expect to be selected in every team they go out for so of course he was pissed off when he missed the team.

“You wouldn’t want it any other way, would you? You wouldn’t expect he’d be happy about it.

“That’s what makes him good.”

Lemanis (above) always was realistic previously when queried on Simmons making his Boomers team for Rio, never ruling out the tyro’s NBA future was likely to be an obstacle.

“What made it difficult is the timing of the Olympics (in August) because in the past, we’ve been able to steer clear of the NBA Summer League,” the coach said.

The NBA Draft is on June 23 and its Summer League active throughout July.

The Boomers are in camp in July.

“I get it,” Lemanis said of Simmons having to give the NBA – his new employer – priority.

“I get it from their point of view and I get it from his point of view.

“This is a life-changing opportunity and you want to do what the club wants you to do.”

By the time FIBA’s 2019 World Cup and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics roll around, Simmons will be in a far stronger and established position to pursue representing his country, something he already has done with distinction at youth levels.

As for the CTS suggesting Lemanis’ contact with Simmons has been minimal, again, facts seem to have been left out in favour of a better story.

“I visited Ben at Monteverde Academy in Florida and I met with his parents, Dave and Julie in relation to Oceania.

“They weren’t thrilled he didn’t make the last (World Cup) team but that’s natural. That decision happened and we’ve moved forward.

“Ben wants to play for Australia – there’s no worries.”

Holidaying overseas last November, Lemanis managed to persuade his wife to take a short drive down to Baton Rouge in Louisiana where he met with Ben and his family.

In February, Lemanis also went to Baton Rouge, spending three days there watching Simmons practice, blowing something of a hole in the CTS account of the events.

“It comes with the territory,” Lemanis said of critics lining up to take pot shots, some possibly simply trying to ingratiate themselves to Simmons who will be our "next big thing".

“You don’t mind if they have the facts straight and they want to have a crack – that’s fair enough.”

No previous Boomers coach in the history of the sport has spent as much time communicating and visiting his overseas playing contingent as Lemanis.

Simmons breaking the news early also is something of a godsend, ending that prolonged speculation and allowing the Boomers to focus again on their final 12 for the “Rio run at Gold”.