Ben Simmons is back. After missing nearly 3 months of action due to a back injury, Simmons finally made his highly-anticipated return tonight against the Utah Jazz. Before tonight’s game, Simmons had not suited up for the Nets since November 6. While many anticipated the former Philadelphia 76ers star to make an epic comeback this season, he disappointed his supporters by not even being available to play.
Following his 3-month hiatus, the NBA World mocked Simmons on his first game back from injury with some hilarious remarks. One fan put up a bizarre question about Simmons’ NBA career on X, “Ben Simmons still plays basketball?”
Ben Simmons still plays basketball? 😆
— Jeremy Lucherini (@TheVintageluke) January 30, 2024
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One fan even made fun of the 3-time All-Star’s number of pre-game outfits because of the duration of time he has been out of action.
I think we’ve all seen enough Ben Simmons fits to last a lifetime!
— Andrew Joseph (@WhampWhamp414) January 30, 2024
Fans also hilariously trolled Simmons for re-starting his “Comeback Tour.”
Ben Simmons returns…yay lol
— Puka4MVP (@thefake_roach) January 30, 2024
The Ben Simmons comeback tour begins again!
— Adam Armbrecht (@AdamArmbrecht) January 30, 2024
Happy “Ben Simmons is back!” to all who celebrate.
— Dan Lockhoff (@danlockhoff) January 30, 2024
The 27-year-old guard has been dealing with back issues since he was part of the Philadelphia 76ers. After his choke job in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semi-finals, Simmons sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to the lingering injury. The Sixers parted ways with Simmons and traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022. His struggles continued after moving to Brooklyn as Simmons played only 42 games last season, and his productivity declined significantly. Simmons vowed to turn his career around this season but was taken out by a back injury after playing just 6 games. So, it is understandable why fans have started to lose faith in the former All-Star. However, his performance tonight might change some minds.
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Ben Simmons makes an immediate impact upon return
Although Ben Simmons started tonight’s game coming off the bench, he made an immediate impact on the Nets’ offense. The 6’10 guard showcased his playmaking ability and dished out 6 quick assists in just 4 minutes. Simmons helped the Nets take an early lead in the first quarter by finding his teammates for easy baskets. However, his shooting struggles continued as he went scoreless in the first quarter. Shooting has been Simmons’ Achilles heel throughout his career. That is what led to him getting trolled by the fans and the media in the first place.
In an era where most players can shoot from anywhere on the court, Simmons refuses to even attempt a three-pointer even when he is left wide open. Simmons’ opponents have exploited his weakness multiple times during the playoffs. And that was also one of the reasons why the Sixers let go of him.
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Hopefully, Simmons can stay healthy for the remainder of the season and finally get back to his All-Star form to silence his critics for good.
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