NBA star Ben Simmons has declared his love for football and the Bombers.
The Australian grew up in Melbourne playing footy and basketball, and said he reached a crossroad where a tough decision between the sports had to be made.
“I remember mum and dad talking to me about it,” Simmons told Channel Nine program 60 Minutes.
“Dad always knew I was going to play basketball, so for me I always knew inside I wanted to play basketball and get to that next level and compete against the best.
Simmons described footy as an “amazing” and “very fun” game and said his mother Julie campaigned for him to stick with football and don the sash.
“I mean she's an Essendon fan same as you know, my uncle, so they're big Essendon fans and of course they want to see their nephew and son play footy.”
While his mum admits she is thrilled for her son to follow his dreams as he stars for the Philadelphia 76ers, she always saw football as a “nice back-up” option.
“I'm really happy that he's playing in the NBA. I mean, that's his dream,” she said.
“One of my brothers always used to say, ‘you know what, Ben, if it doesn't work out in the NBA you can always come back and play for the Bombers’.”
Simmons has followed in his mum’s footsteps as a big Essendon fan, and said his grounding in the sport has helped him develop a more physical style on the basketball court.
“I think I’ve used two hip and shoulders this season,” he said.
“I’ve dropped a couple of people but then it comes out at the wrong time, but it’s just the way I play.
“I think that physicality side of footy has definitely translated to basketball.”
Simmons’ full interview with 60 Minutes will air on Sunday night at 8:30pm.
