Ben Simmons Teases Return to Sixers Form in Nets’ Preseason Debut

The Brooklyn Nets took a much-needed gamble on Ben Simmons during the 2021 NBA trade deadline. With James Harden lacking motivation after turning down an extension months before the deadline, the Nets felt Daryl Morey’s pressure as he looked to swap out a disgruntled Simmons with his old friend Harden.

At this point, Simmons is the only player left in Brooklyn from the package that came from Philadelphia. The veteran big man Andre Drummond is with the Chicago Bulls, while the veteran sharpshooter Seth Curry took his talents back to the Dallas Mavericks.

About a year and a half into the Simmons experiment, the Nets seemed discouraged about the future of the All-Star they landed in the deal. Simmons didn’t play at all during the 2021-2022 NBA season. When he finally debuted during the 2022-2023 run, he appeared in 42 games, averaging career lows across the board before going out with a season-ending back injury.

Rehabbed and rested up, Simmons entered the Nets’ training camp this offseason with high hopes of getting back on track. Throughout the last week, Nets players and coaches were confident in Simmons’ ability to bounce back and resemble the player the Sixers had for four straight seasons.

On Monday night, Simmons got the start for his first set of game action since February as the Nets battled it out against the Los Angeles Lakers for their preseason opener out in Las Vegas.

Getting back out on the floor, Simmons felt great about what he put on display.

“[It felt] amazing,” he told reporters, according to the New York Post. “That’s really it, just amazing. Happy to be out there, and compete, and feel good out there and able to contribute like I know how I can. So I felt great. It’s the best in two years for sure. Definitely.”

The perception surrounding Simmons in New York at the moment is positive for the former 76ers All-Star. While nobody is jumping the gun and predicting a fourth All-Star bid in Simmons’ future, he looked refreshed and much more confident in his game compared to his debut season in Brooklyn.

SNY’s John Flanigan noted Simmons had the “comfortability” to attack the rim on Monday. Sam Quinn of CBS Sports believes Simmons played his “most aggressive” basketball in a Nets uniform against the Lakers. The NY Post’s Brian Lewis added that Simmons “passed the eye test” with flying colors, considering everything that’s been said over the offseason, with how active and aggressive Simmons looked.

When in a Sixers uniform, Simmons was a dangerous weapon on the offensive end when he was fearlessly attacking the basket. Being that he was a threat to test the paint, Simmons knew how to draw attention near the rim and quickly dish the ball out to the open shooter if the opportunity to do so presented itself.

But as Simmons’ confidence diminished during his final days as a Sixer, he was less willing to play as aggressive and it showed in his numbers as he went from averaging over 16 points and eight assists to just 14 points and seven assists during his final run in Philadelphia. His production took even more of a hit last season, as he averaged just seven points and six assists on the Nets.

Consistency will be key for Simmons this year, as he has a lot to prove after the last two seasons. While expanding his range used to be the common expectation surrounding the former first-overall pick, Simmons has to get back to the basics and thrive in his role as a productive player who can do a little bit of everything on both ends of the floor.

A ten-point outing in 14 minutes during the preseason opener doesn’t project Simmons will be back in All-Star conversations this season, but passing the eye test is a good first step for the Nets’ guard.