Ben Simmons is gearing up for an incredibly important season in his career. The last time we saw Simmons play was in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, where he failed to perform up to expectations, as his Philadelphia 76ers fell to the Atlanta Hawks in 7 games. The losses were marked by Simmons being passive offensively, especially in the 4th quarter.
He sat out last season after a messy trade from the 76ers to the Brooklyn Nets, where he will be a crucial part of their title push in the upcoming season. After undergoing back surgery and being expected to return to the season from Game 1 onwards, Simmons will have a prime chance to win back the fans he’s lost.
He’s been mocked by fans endlessly since the 2021 Playoffs, and that energy is still continuing. Simmons lives in New York now to be with the Nets and attended the US Open at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens. As the screen showed he was in attendance, Simmons was met with boos by his home fans.
Will Ben Simmons Crumble Under The Pressure In Brooklyn?
The biggest worry with Simmons for most people is whether he has the mental fortitude to go through the grind of an NBA season, especially with the hyper-critical media in New York.
Simmons’ play on the court is all-world and will complement Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant really well. If he can recapture his excellent defensive form, he will instantly enamor himself with the Nets fans.
Nobody’s seen him play in so long that there are many questions about how he will come back to the court. The pressure is going to be at the max for Ben as he is fighting to keep his value up as well as prove to KD that he did the right thing by staying and pushing for a championship together.
