Ben Simmons is wholesome.
At least that’s what his camp is saying.
The former three-time NBA All-Star who battled again points the previous two seasons is “as healthy as he’s ever been since his last year” with the Philadelphia 76ers, in response to ESPN’s Marc Spears.
Spears, who learn a textual content message from somebody near Simmons reside throughout an ESPN broadcast, delivered essentially the most encouraging information concerning the star, whose season ended as a result of an ongoing again damage shortly after the All-Star break.
“I would say he’s in the final stage of prep for the season and has passed every benchmark and is healthy as he’s ever been since his last year in Philly,” Spears learn from his telephone. “Brooklyn has been incredibly supportive, and the plan is for him to be the Nets’ point guard and primary ball handler this coming season. The expectation is he will fully resume his career at the level he was prior to leaving Philadelphia.”
Simmons arrived in Brooklyn as a part of the James Harden commerce in Feb. 2022 however didn’t play for the Nets in any respect within the second half of that season as a result of a mix of psychological well being points and his decrease again upkeep. He underwent a microdiscectomy to assist deal with a herniated disk in his decrease again final offseason and proceeded to seem in 42 of Brooklyn’s 82 regular-season video games, averaging seven factors, six rebounds and 6 assists per sport.
The Nets, nevertheless, ultimately shut Simmons down for the rest of the season in February after it turned clear he was enjoying at a restricted capability as a result of his decrease again.
The perception, from his camp, now’s that Simmons’ again damage could also be a factor of the previous.
If that is, certainly, the case, and the Nets insert a wholesome Simmons into the beginning lineup at level guard, Brooklyn instantly turns into one of many league’s top-ranked defensive groups, no less than on paper.
A beginning lineup that includes Simmons, Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton, Dorian Finney-Smith and Cam Johnson supplies sufficient size and flexibility to change all positions one via 5 whereas maintaining the ground spaced with three-point shooters and a lob risk.
Starting Simmons would additionally transfer level guard Spencer Dinwiddie to a sixth man function, which can not solely be his greatest match main the second unit, however might additionally profit third-year reserve scorer Cam Thomas, who is about to see an expanded function with Seth Curry leaving Brooklyn to signal with the Dallas Mavericks.
Back accidents, in fact, are tough — and fickle. After all, Simmons was on the verge of a return in the course of the season he arrived in Brooklyn earlier than setbacks stored him off the courtroom. Simmons additionally suffered setbacks when he performed in each video games of a back-to-back. On two events, the overload affected his knee, not his again, although Simmons mentioned the elements are associated.
What’s clear is {that a} wholesome Simmons drastically raises Brooklyn’s ceiling. He is a perennial All-NBA Defensive Team honoree who doubles as probably the greatest playmakers in basketball when he has the ball within the open courtroom.
With aggressive three-point shooters like Bridges, Johnson, Finney-Smith, Dinwiddie, Thomas and Royce O’Neale, the setup works in Simmons’ favor.
So lengthy as his again can deal with the load.
Simmons averaged about 16.5 factors, 8.4 rebounds and eight assists per sport in two of his remaining three seasons in Philadelphia and led the league in steals per sport (2.1) within the 2019-20 season. The 27-year-old ahead from Australia is the highest-paid participant on the Nets’ payroll, set to earn $78 million over the subsequent two seasons.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com