Sport

Basketball

NBA's 76ers defend resting Simmons

Rested: Ben Simmons.

Philadelphia 76ers head coach Brett Brown has defended Ben Simmons after NBA great Isiah Thomas slammed the Australian teenager for sitting out Summer League games.

Maker making NBA impression

Eye-catching start: Milwaukee Bucks' Thon Maker.

Thon Maker's Milwaukee Bucks have had their hopes of winning the NBA Summer League title extinguished, but the 216-centimetre Australian teenager still earned rave reviews.

Simmons' passing dazzles for 76ers

Ben Simmons in Summer League action last week.

Ben Simmons almost had more fouls than points and the Philadelphia 76ers suffered another loss, but the Australian teenager still managed to dazzle.

Equal in the air, world No.2 Opals eye Rio

Liz Cambage: Set to rejoin the Opals camp for the first time since an achilles injury.

The Opals have achieved parity with their airline tickets but won't be settling for second best as they try to chase an elusive gold medal on the basketball courts of Rio.

'Tough calls have to be made'

Omission: Coach Andrej Lemanis said it was tough to tell Brad Newley he hadn't made it for Rio.

Australian Boomers coach Andrej Lemanis has known Brad Newley since he was a teenage rookie with NBL club Townsville Crocodiles and that only made it harder to tell the player he wouldn't go to his third Olympics.