Ben Simmons, who sat out all of the 2021/22 season in large part due to mental health issues, is still working with a therapist on how best to handle challenges like his return to Philadelphia on Tuesday night as a member of the Nets, writes Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.
As Shelburne details, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn referred to the road game against the Sixers as “the most hostile environment he’s probably ever going to be in” and said it would be a “monumental” hurdle for Simmons to clear.
While Brooklyn didn’t end up winning the game, it’s safe to say Simmons cleared the hurdle — he played 32 minutes and filled up the box score with 11 points, 11 assists, seven rebounds, three steals, and three blocks. After the game, he said with a smile that he thought the boos and the “F–k Ben Simmons” chants were “going to be louder,” according to Nick Friedell of ESPN.
“I feel like I’m in a good place,” Simmons said. “I’m happy, I’m doing what I love. So to be out there and have that experience was amazing. Obviously it wasn’t the result we wanted. It’s frustrating to lose a game like that, but I think it’s a good step forward.”
Here’s more on Simmons and the Nets:
- Within her aforementioned story, Shelburne says that a meeting between Simmons and Vaughn last Tuesday in Sacramento helped clear the air and put the three-time All-Star on the right track. “Sometimes I think guys just want to be heard,” Vaughn said. “And so for me to listen to him, about where he wants to get his game to, that he believes he’s going to get it back to an All-Defensive level. To hear those words means that we’re going to work on it together.” Since that meeting, the former No. 1 overall pick has averaged 14.8 PPG, 8.3 RPG, and 6.5 APG on 78.8% shooting in four games (29.9 MPG).
- Seth Curry has played in eight of Brooklyn’s last nine games, but the team is still being cautious with him as he comes off ankle surgery. Curry has been ruled out for Wednesday’s contest in Toronto due to left ankle injury management, tweets Brian Lewis of The New York Post. Yuta Watanabe, who leads the NBA with a .571 3PT%, has also been ruled out for a second straight game — he won’t suit up against his former team due to right hamstring soreness.
- Vaughn provided a minor update on T.J. Warren on Tuesday, telling reporters that the veteran forward is now practicing against players and not just coaches, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New Post. However, it remains unclear when Warren will make his Nets debut. “No setbacks, so overall T.J.’s been getting a good body of work in,” Vaughn said.
Low bar for that hurdle. Just show up, score 11?
Way to leave out an almost triple double with multiple steals and blocks
And that he’s shooting 78% over the 4 games since his return and there is a few put backs in that 78%, it’s effectively higher than that.
He’s obviously a guy that didn’t watch any of the games but has strong opinions.
Superstar worth every penny. Said nobody ever. 14.4 PER and scared to death to shoot.
Nets had Kd Kyrie and Ben starting with Joe Harris back aswell and lost to the Sixers with Embiid Harden and Maxey all out
Yet everyone is talking up Ben for almost getting the worlds worse triple double. I love Ben but cmon man the nets suck, and should’ve won that game hahahaha
It was a weird game that the Nets packed in early. They also play 3 games in 4 days with that as a road B2B.
If you actually watched it, you would have saw Simmons do some really good things despite his athleticism being down.
Pretty typical Philadelphia crowd – lots of kids in the building, but dropping “F Ben Simmons” chants anyway. Surprised they didn’t throw batteries as well.
Their fan-base, in general, doesn’t deserve success.
lol okay buddy