Former No. 1 Pick Reportedly Set for Comeback: ‘I feel I’m at 100% right now’

Following a past few tumultuous years, former No. 1 pick Ben Simmons is reportedly set to see a return to form in the upcoming 2023-24 season.

After being dealt in a package for James Harden, the longtime Sixers played in just 42 games last season for Brooklyn, dealing with various injuries and other matters.

Now, all signs are pointing towards him coming back full strength, which in his heyday, yielded All-NBA selections and Defensive Player of the Year runner-ups.

In a recent article from NBA reporter Marc Spears on Andscape, Simmons detailed plenty about his health in years prior and currently.

“I don’t think people realize how bad it was in terms of physically how I was feeling and what I was able to do on the floor.” Simmons told Spears. “Being able to sit down now and not have to lean or slouch one way, it’s kind of crazy for me. But I feel I’m at 100% now. Right now, I’m just building back to where I’m playing. I haven’t played in a while. Just taking hits and getting my body used to that.”

“Off the court, just daily things. Waking up, standing up. Getting out of bed, that was a struggle because I was in pain usually — Now it’s completely different, and that was adding to that stress of everything else going on, not being able to perform or play knowing you have some things going on, which was really frustrating.”

To this point, Simmons hasn’t quite lived up to his potential as a prospect. Drafted first overall by Philadelphia in the 2016 NBA Draft, he was chosen over talents like Brandon Ingram, Jaylen Brown, Jamal Murray. Domantas Sabonis and more.

At 6-foot-8 with unquestionable defensive skills, athleticism and poised passing chops — all of which were on display in his earlier years — Simmons had elite-level potential.

But he was never able to tap into his perimeter shooting, meaning he was never a lethal three-level scorer. In his career thus far, he’s shot just 14 percent on 3-pointers, hitting on just five-of-36 shots in total.

Simmons could very well come off injury and get back to his level of strong defensive production, and could even see some return to form in terms of athleticism. But there’s a slim chance he sees any boost to his 3-point numbers.

Regardless, Simmons' return bodes well for the Nets — who are poised to field a fun team with the likes of Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nic Clayton and more — but even more for the NBA in general, which is already holding some of the best talent its ever seen.

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