Nine NBA players have been included in Australia’s Tokyo Olympic squad, AFP reported on Wednesday. Two-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons, Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles and San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills are among those on the squad, as the team targets a gold medal.

Ranked third in the world, the team will travel to Japan with a 24-man squad that also features Aron Baynes (Toronto Raptors), Matthew Dellavedova (Cleveland Cavaliers), and Josh Green (Dallas Mavericks).

“It is a well-balanced squad selected by position with a nice blend of experience coupled with a lot of new and exciting players coming through,” said head coach Brian Goorjian.

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“These are our top 24 available players and included is significant representation from the NBL, showing the strength of our local league where the standard of competition is recognised worldwide,” he added.

American veteran Goorjian took on the role in November after former Philadelphia 76ers’ coach Brett Brown quit without prior notice.

With considerable experience, Goorjian led Australia at the 2004 Athens and 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Tokyo will be the fourth Olympics for both Mills and Ingles. 

“We are both excited to again be named in the Australian Boomers squad and we are determined to lead this group of both veteran experience and exciting younger talent to an elusive Olympic medal,” they said in a joint statement.

Significantly, championship-winning centre Andrew Bogut will not make play in Tokyo this time after announcing his immediate retirement after a 15-year career in December.