NBA Community Divided as Ben Simmons Displays Improved Shooting in Brooklyn Nets Practice

Joel Embiid and the Philadelphia 76ers breathed a sigh of relief after they traded for Ben Simmons. The former All-Star faced toms of scrutiny after letting off an open dunk in the playoffs last season. Since then, the Simmons saga began, and he didn’t play a single game for the Sixers this season. However, years after being called a shooting liability, it seems like Simmons is working to make his shot better.

The saga between the Sixers and Ben Simmons lasted for the entire first half of the season. There were all the ups and downs, but nothing led to any significant movement. So after absorbing heavy fines from the All-Star guard, the Sixers got the opportunity of a lifetime and traded in James Harden for Simmons. This came as a breakthrough for them, with Embiid in his prime and Harden being one of the most decorated scorers in the league.

But it seems Simmons didn’t just listen to the criticism on the sidelines. The new Nets man was spotted working on his shooting and NBA fans had their mixed feelings.

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Ben Simmons erasing his weakness?

Simmons has had many positives as a tall guard in the league. Standing at 6 feet 11 inches, Ben can defend any guard in the league with ease. Moreover, his passing abilities are often overlooked with the defense he brings to the table. However, the one downfall to his game as a point guard has been his poor shooting. Simmons has hit just 5 three-pointers in his entire career so far. But it seems like things may change.

After being acquired by the Nets, Simmons has been spotted working on his shooting. Now, he is working with one of the most renowned shooters, Kyle Korver, who is a development coach with the Nets. While there is no guarantee of how things will turn out, Simmons is coming in with a positive approach.

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Before this, the 25-year-old was not looking into his weakness, and hence there was no significant improvement. However, now Simmons is acknowledging what part of his game needs time and accordingly working to improve. If he does develop a jump shot, his potential could skyrocket as a player. Already being one of the top defenders in the league, Simmons could become a master scorer in the category of Giannis Antetokounmpo if he could develop a consistent jump shot.

For now, his offensive game depends mostly on interior scoring and dunks with most of his?shots coming from within 9 ft of the basket last season. With a jump shot, his coexistence with Kevin Durant and Kyrie could see new heights. The Nets trio will have both defense and offense on offer.

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But it is too early to dwell. Simmons is only just beginning his process to improve and all good things take time. Hence, the former number 1 pick will need his time to produce the appropriate results.