After losing 6 out of their last 9 games, the Brooklyn Nets have got a much-needed win, but fans were not expecting a 33-point blowout. Eight players scored in double figures, but Ben Simmons and Mikal Bridges stole the show with efficient numbers. While Bridges led the charge with 33 points, a former NBA star took the time to praise Simmons’s “near triple-double” in just 18 minutes. Looks like the lights are bright for the Nets, now that Simmons is back on the roster. 

Ex-Memphis Grizzlies star Matt Barnes gave Simmons his flowers through an Instagram story. The 43-year-old shared, “Damn near triple-double in 18 minutes. Happy to see Ben Simmons back on the court”. Simmons secured 10 points, 11 assists, and 8 rebounds in his first game back after missing 38 games for the Nets. Most importantly, he had a 100% field goal a block, and a steal which gave him an impressive +/- of 27. 

Simmons was last seen on the court on November 6. A pinched nerve on his back kept him sidelined for several games which cost the Nets big time. The team is 10th seed in the Eastern Conference and is 8 games below .500. Anyhow, their hopes for playoffs are not a long shot. With the point guard back, the odds are high. Before the start of the 2024 season, Simmons was sidelined for nearly 1.5 years due to a herniated disc. The young star spent a full summer in LA to undergo a microdiscectomy surgery to repair his back. Well, it’s time to repair his career now. Hopefully, he doesn’t fall

Matt Barnes’s consistent trust in Ben Simmons

During his toughest times, Barnes has been the positive ray of light for the Nets star. Previously in 2022, when Simmons was facing criticism for missing games due to a knee injury, Barnes shared, “I think Ben Simmons is hurt. Ben Simmons is getting his knee drained constantly. And if you’re an athlete, you know how tough that process is and how painful it is to have to have your knee drained…And I think if Ben Simmons can get healthy, he can be a key contributor to that team.” 

Read more: “I Don’t Even Consider Ben Simmons”: Despite Vowing to Salvage His Career, Nets’ 6’10 All-Star Guard Is Still Invisible to Brian Windhorst

In addition to this, when Barnes joined the ‘NBA on TNT’ for a show, he shared, “A healthy Ben Simmons can give anybody problems”. Barnes is indeed a fan of his game and he has a lot of trust in the Australian guard. Let’s see if Simmons can make the ex-NBA star proud. 

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