It has been two full seasons since Ben Simmons joined the Brooklyn Nets. To say his time with the team has been a disappointment up to this point is an understatement. In February 2022, the Nets acquired Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers for former MVP James Harden. At the time, the Australian native was in the middle of a holdout and dealing with a back injury. Simmons sat out the entire 2021-22 season. Since then, he has only appeared in 57 games for the Nets in two seasons. His lack of availability is a problem on its own. However, it is even worse considering that he has not looked great when he does take the court. During his Nets tenure so far, Simmons is averaging 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 5.7 assists. However, Simmons looks to remind the NBA world of his greatness during the 2024-25 season.
In a recent interview with Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Simmons spoke about this season. As he aims to have a bounceback campaign, the LSU alum said he also wants “to lead by example” and “compete.”
“We have a younger team that I want to help these guys get better. I want to lead by example. I want to compete,” Simmons told The Post. “Jordi [Fernandez, coach] is coming in first year. It’s a big year for him. I want to be a leader on this team.
The Nets begin their regular season on October 23 on the road against the Atlanta Hawks.
Ben Simmons Reveals Biggest Priority for 2024-25 Season
Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jordi Fernandez Has High Hopes for Ben Simmons
In April, the Nets hired Jordi Fernandez as their new head coach. From 2016 to 2024, Fernandez was an assistant coach for the Denver Nuggets and the Sacramento Kings. Additionally, he coached the men’s Canada team during this year’s Olympics. Fernandez is an intriguing hire for the Nets and has a lot of potential to make the team successful again. Additionally, in doing so, Fernandez believes that Simmons is an important part of the team. Fernandez recently said he is “happy with where [Simmons] is” ahead of the regular season opener.
“A healthy Ben Simmons is a very, very good player — that’s what I focus on,” Fernandez said. “I don’t have social media. I know that at the end of the day, social media brings the worst out of people, because if you want to be heard you have to say something negative. And always one negative trumps 10 positives. [But] I’m happy with where Ben is, how he’s showing up every day.”
Regardless of how Fernandez and Simmons gel together, the Nets are in a tough spot. They missed the playoffs last season, their first time doing so since the 2017-18 season. Additionally, they traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks early in the summer. While there is a lot to be excited about in Brooklyn, it will be difficult for them to become a legitimate playoff contender right away.
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Given his recent down seasons, it is easy to forget that Simmons is only 28 years old. The last time we saw him fully healthy, he was an All-Star and finished 12th in NBA MVP voting. There is no guarantee he will return to his old form, especially immediately. However, if Simmons truly is as healthy as many say he is, he and the Nets have the opportunity to shock the basketball world and make headlines.
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