The best all-round player since LeBron James – Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. This was the title bestowed upon the controversial star guard by Hall of Famer Magic Johnson. With good reason, too. Simmons is a great player, with a rare combination of size suitable for a small forward and the vision of a point guard. A team player, he has the skills to defend and play all five positions.
With so much spotlight on him since the Sixers, Simmons had fallen out of grace with his fans. But seeing him healthy and with so much positive energy for the future has everyone looking forward to seeing him perform on the court. Thankfully, it was not in vain.
Ben Simmons is making a comeback
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The season opener of Nets vs Cavaliers saw Ben Simmons in great form. Just 1 point behind the Cavaliers, the Nets had a solid 113 points. His injuries were a big aspect that put him behind. But taking the required rest and training according to his bodily needs, Simmons seems to be making headway.?According to StatMuse, he performed pretty well tonight.
Ben Simmons tonight:
4 PTS
10 REB
9 ASTHe?s back. https://t.co/gtnlIWvn8h
? StatMuse (@statmuse) October 26, 2023
As the game progressed, the Nets fans noticed Simmons pass a layup to Cam Thomas who missed, instead of taking the shot himself. It was a palm-to-the-face moment for everyone in the stadium. But Ben picked himself up straight after when Mikal Bridges shot him in time for an alley-oop slam dunk.
In all fairness, Simmons did have two defenders right in front of him and at the moment he made a play that he thought could help them score. Overall, the Nets did not fail their devoted fans and Ben Simmons seems to have made good on his promise.
Simmons’ promises were not empty words
When Ben Simmons sat down for a one-on-one with Andscape on August 25th, he made sure to let people know that he was ready to “dominate”. He missed the entire 2021-22 season because of a back injury. Simmons in last season played only 42 games due to a nerve issue in his back.
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Read More: Latest Update on Ben Simmons? Mental Health Delivers Mixed News for 76ers
Not to mention, Ben also revealed a lot of the mental struggles he’s been having. But in a positive light, he seems to have picked up his pace and is back at it with renewed energy. Answering Marc J. Spear’s questions regarding whether he’d be able to play in the 2023-24 season, Simmons says, “Definitely … The version I?m at now, if I was playing against myself from last season, I would kill him.”?
Talking about his body in terms of the strength he is at now, Ben says, “This is the strongest my core has ever been.”
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Well, his alley-oop dunk does speak to the core strength he has been slowly working to regain. The pre-season practices already scored him brownie points. Tonight’s match is also a testament to his oath. So, do you think that Simmons is on the right track to win a ring in the near future?
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