Ben Simmons spoke about the upcoming NBA season during the Brooklyn Nets‘ media day. He noted that a lot of fans may have forgotten what kind of player he is when at full health, and wants to remind fans that he is a great player when he is healthy and pain-free.
“I think people forget, me as a player when I’m healthy. I can play basketball, and I’m pretty good, right? So for me, it’s just being consistent with that.”
It sounds as though Ben Simmons is preparing to show the world that he shouldn’t be written off after two seasons of underwhelming performances. Simmons has appeared to be a shell of himself over the last few years with the Nets, but he may attribute that to his niggling back injuries, which required multiple surgeries.
It is hard to believe Simmons when talking about himself making a comeback to his All-Star level, as he has been doing this for the last two years and has yet to produce results. Simmons has now become a glorified, overpaid role player who has yet to deliver any glimpse of his old self since being traded to the Nets.
Since joining the Nes, Simmons has played just 57 games in two seasons and averaged a meager 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists. He plays very few games and provides role-player production. Whereas his salary is that of an All-Star, as he is making $40 million this season.
Simmons is in a contract year, as he enters free agency next summer, so his motivation could be understandable. But even then, motivation alone cannot will him to great numbers if his body cannot cope with it.
Of course, fans could be wrong, and Simmons could return to his best this season. But given everything we’ve seen from him, that may be too optimistic to believe. But if Simmons can at least be a decent contributor for the Nets this season, he could earn a chance in the NBA after his massive contract expires at the end of next season.
Can Ben Simmons Help The Nets?
Fans will be wondering what type of impact that Ben Simmons will have on the Nets. On the one hand, we have Simmons suggesting that he will go on a revenge tour and elevate his performance to previous levels. That would be great, but highly unlikely given the last few years.
But it is very likely that the Nets don’t even want that from Ben Simmons. The Nets fully committed to a rebuild this past summer, after trading Mikal Bridges to the Knicks and getting their draft picks from the Rockets. So playing poorly will benefit them, as it gives them a higher chance of landing a high lottery pick in next year’s NBA Draft.
If Simmons fails to return to his All-Star level, ironically, Nets fans and members of the organization will be thrilled, as it puts them in a better position to land a high draft pick. On top of that, Simmons being a great cap-filler piece for them this season as they look to tank is a great benefit to them.
Simmons may no longer be able to reach that All-Star level anymore, but he will be eager to show that he can still play a capable role on an NBA team ahead of free agency next year, as he would like to continue playing in the NBA, and needs to show teams why he would be worth that money.
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