It is a fashion to compare young top-drafted players to LeBron James and Michael Jordan. This comparison with two of the generational players often goes south. Consider the example of Zion Williamson, he was compared to LeBron James but is getting farther away from the purported legacy. Before Williamson, who was drafted in 2019, some people heralded one other player to get close to LBJ.

However, as his career has unfolded, such comparisons are diminishing.

Kevin Durant’s former teammate is still ways away from returning

When Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving left the Brooklyn Nets last season, they gave the keys to Mikal Bridges. The amazing two-way Forward responded in kind and built a huge fanbase in a short time. Ben Simmons, who was considered the next LBJ, couldn’t even play the second fiddle to fix the Kyrie and Durant-shaped hole. He hasn’t been playing a lot and injuries have engulfed his career.

Even when he plays, he looks like a shadow of what he was with the Philadelphia 76ers. He missed around half of the games for the Nets last season and the latest update suggests that his return is still a long away. As per Nets GM Sean Marks, he still has a lot of ground to cover despite being in “great physical shape”.

Ben Simmons was a part of the James Harden trade after the Guard declined to play for the 76ers during the 2021-22 season. Amidst his public fallout from the 76ers, he came to the Nets with three years left on his five-year $177 million contract. He missed all of the 2021-22 season and when he returned last season, his play looked underwhelming. His scoring went from around 15 PPG to around 7 PPG and his overall motor was low.

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Can Simmons get close to what he was before?

Do remember, this is an athlete who has been All-Star for three straight years, made two All-Defensive First teams, and one All-NBA Third Team. The last two years seemed to have wiped out his budding reputation and injury troubles have arrived at an inopportune juncture. His decline has led to speculations that his current team Nets may trade him soon. 

However, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn and GM Sean Marks have shown more optimism about his future with the team. But this surface-level positivity may hide the inner reservations. If he does restore his earlier play and be healthy, his duo with Bridges looks like a defense galore. 

Will he and Bridges play together with the Nets or will Brooklyn move on from him? Do share in the comments below.

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