LAS VEGAS — The seemingly limitless anticipate Ben Simmons to play aggressive basketball stays open-ended.
Nearly 5 months since his final recreation with the Nets, Simmons’s coaching nonetheless doesn’t embody 5-on-5 or 3-on-3 exercises, GM Sean Marks revealed Sunday.
It was a notable improvement because the Australian nationwide workforce coach stated not too long ago that Simmons was gearing as much as play in August on the FIBA World Cup. But Simmons subsequently pulled out of World Cup consideration, which Marks stated was a collaborative resolution involving the Nets.
The GM stated he visited Simmons in Miami and supplied a rosy report of “he’s in great physical shape and also mentally.” But there stays no agenda for his return from the again damage, solely hope that Simmons will likely be accessible for Nets coaching camp on the finish of September.
“We’ve got time,” Marks stated. “This is not something where we’re going to rush him back in to play 5-on-5 in the next couple weeks. But he’s progressing — he’ll be ready to go hopefully very, very soon.”
Simmons has been coping with again issues for some time and underwent surgical procedure over a 12 months in the past. He briefly returned final season however was shut down in February attributable to ache. Before that, Simmons sat out a complete season whereas citing psychological well being struggles.
When he’s performed, the 6-10 level guard has been a shell of his former All-Star self. The most noticeable concern is a reluctance to shoot or contain himself within the offense. Simmons averaged simply 5.6 makes an attempt and his free-throw proportion dipped to a career-low 43.9%.
Despite the proof pointing to a extreme drop off in manufacturing and confidence, Marks stated followers ought to nonetheless anticipate Simmons to return to prime type. His caveat is that Simmons will get wholesome.
“That’s a great question. I mean, reasonably, I think the hope is that he returns to that level of play,” Marks stated. “I imply, if he was 35 years outdated, I wouldn’t be capable to let you know that. But I believe realizing that he’s mid 20s and he has nonetheless not reached his prime, we’re going to verify he can get again on the market and get again to that type.
“And hopefully we see his game even evolve past that. But health is going to be the key to him.”
Simmons, who was acquired from Philly for James Harden, is owed $78 million via the 2024-25 season.
In the meantime, Simmons gained’t play within the World Cup in Asia — the place two of his Nets teammates, Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson, are representing the United States — and his return stays with out a set date.
“Bottom line is we kind of ran out of time for him to come back and represent Australia,” Marks stated. “I love the fact that guys want to represent their country. It’s really important. It’s great for them, it’s great for the Brooklyn Nets, too, to have guys out there. Whether it’s Cam or Mikal or Ben. So hopefully he gets an opportunity to do that in the future. He’s made it very clear to us that’s something he wants to do in the future. This particular summer, he just ran out of time. It just wasn’t the right thing to do to put him out there without playing and rushing it.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com