After enduring a sour relationship with the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets last 2021-2022 season. As such, a lingering back injury still haunted him in playing competitive basketball — which forced the club to finally shut him down.
His teammate, Seth Curry, believes that the adjustment from taking long hiatus into suiting up again won’t be easy.
“There are always challenges. Foremost, he has missed a whole season. It is going to be a challenge getting his rhythm back playing basketball,” Curry said about Simmons on Melbourne Age and Sydney Morning Herald, via Nets Daily.
“I don’t know specifically what he has been through, mentally – that’s hard for me to comment on – but having that year off, having that time off, of competing and playing five-on-five basketball is going to be just as hard … just taking some time and getting re-acclimated to playing high-level basketball.”
Still, amid hardships, Curry believes that the Aussie cager can work things out, noting Simmons as a “special talent.”
“He is a special talent, has all the skills. The Nets need him on the floor.”
Standing as a 6’11” and 240 lbs talent, Simmons is a freight train who has an elite playmaking skill and defensive reputation. Though his offense remains a facet that is yet to be tapped, his versatility and control with the ball are undeniably special.
Should the Nets turn things around and miraculously regain the commitment of both Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant, this Brooklyn team looks terrifying as it is on paper, with Simmons playing at the point man slate.
“We are going to need what he brings to the table. Obviously, he is an All-Star caliber player,” Curry said about the three-time All-star. “Obviously, he is trying to make the most of this off-season, get back healthy physically and mentally.
“Like I say, he had a year off, it’s going to be good for him to get back out on the court and get re-acclimated.”
