Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons (10) drives previous Philadelphia 76ers’ Paul Reed (44) through the second half of a preseason NBA basketball recreation Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in New York. (AP Photograph/Frank Franklin II)
NEW YORK — The scouting report sounded strikingly much like the one which described Ben Simmons when he was an All-Star in Philadelphia, not a backup in Brooklyn.
“I’m nonetheless quick, I can nonetheless soar excessive, I’m nonetheless robust,” Simmons stated.
Not final season.
Not when he was so ineffective in his return from again surgical procedure that Simmons couldn’t even protest a lot when he was bounced first from his regular place, then ultimately from Nets coach Jacque Vaughn’s rotation fully.
“It’s onerous for a coach to essentially belief and consider in you when he’s not seeing it, proper?” Simmons stated. “And I’m not capable of bodily do it and he can’t see it, then as a coach I’d do the identical factor: ‘Effectively, I’m not going to play you if you happen to’re not capable of compete and do the issues I do know you are able to do.’”
Simmons’ relationship with Vaughn has healed and it seems his physique has, too.
Reinstalled as the purpose guard, Simmons was shifting rapidly and decisively once more within the preseason after enjoying simply 42 video games the final two seasons. It provides the Nets hope that, not with Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving, a minimum of they now have the previous Ben Simmons.
“He appears to be like in form, he appears to be like assured and fairly aggressive, and it appears to be like like they’ve obtained a bundle of stuff in for him,” 76ers coach Nick Nurse stated.
That was obvious immediately within the Nets’ exhibition schedule, when Simmons powered previous LeBron James on a drive into the lane for a basket early of their opening recreation towards the Lakers in Las Vegas.
If Simmons can stick with it when the video games depend, Brooklyn could have a participant like few others within the NBA, a 6-foot-10 level guard who’s fast sufficient to blow by most gamers on offense and powerful sufficient to protect any place on protection.
“Ben Simmons going downhill is an issue,” stated Doc Rivers, who coached Simmons in Philadelphia and is now an ESPN analyst.
But when the Nets get the Simmons of the final two seasons, when at first he didn’t play due to psychological well being causes after which couldn’t play due to bodily ones, they are going to be caught with a participant who’s owed greater than $78 million over the subsequent two years and is simply 5 for 36 in his profession from 3-point vary, having by no means developed the soar shot he would possibly want if some athleticism has been misplaced.
Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons (10) appears to be like to go the ball through the second half of a preseason NBA basketball recreation towards the Philadelphia 76ers, Monday, Oct. 16, 2023, in New York. (AP Photograph/Frank Franklin II)
“He has to have his burst again. And that’s the one factor I’m wondering, is that if he can have that,” Rivers stated. “If he can’t have that, then he has to create one other method of enjoying and that’s going to be onerous.”
It definitely didn’t work final season, when the No. 1 choose within the 2016 draft averaged profession lows of 6.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists. Twice voted to the All-Defensive first crew, Simmons additionally was affected on that finish of the ground, fouling out of two of the primary three video games as his physique not stored up together with his instincts.
Simmons had undergone a microdiscectomy, a process to take away a small fragment of a herniated disc, in Could 2022. Whereas enjoying his method again into form following that, Simmons additionally developed knee and calf ache that compelled him to sit down out 20 video games final season earlier than a nerve impingement in his again finally ended his season in March.
Vaughn, who changed the fired Steve Nash in November, had determined earlier than then he might not wait on Simmons. The Nets had been making an attempt to win video games and maintain onto a playoff spot whereas overhauling the lineup after dealing Durant and Irving earlier than the commerce deadline, and Simmons wasn’t performing the way in which Vaughn wanted.
It wasn’t till they talked this summer time, away from the stress of the season, that Vaughn realized it was as a result of Simmons couldn’t, not that he wouldn’t.
“Not like we hadn’t talked about it earlier than, however like I stated, through the yr I had an ordinary for everybody and that wasn’t going to alter,” Vaughn stated. “And so it was onerous for me to recalibrate what I used to be asking of an athlete, once I had seen him earlier than do the issues that I used to be asking.”
Vaughn went to observe Simmons work out in Miami and each males say their relationship is healthier now. Vaughn assured Simmons, who performed as a ahead or backup massive man final season, that the ball can be again in fingers if he might bodily deal with it.
“So the time, which a whole lot of instances heals a whole lot of issues, ended up therapeutic a whole lot of uncertainty with Ben and I,” Vaughn stated.
Rivers, who compares Simmons to Magic Johnson due to his measurement and passing potential, thinks a fourth All-Star choice is feasible. Simmons, used to his recreation being scrutinized in each his NBA properties, received’t say a lot past that he’s lastly wholesome once more.
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“I’m not one to essentially discuss an excessive amount of when it comes to media and issues like that when it’s not wanted,” Simmons stated. “So it’s enjoyable to only come out right here and play my recreation and let everybody else do the speaking.”