Ben Simmons warning for those that have predicted his NBA downfall
Ben Simmons has been backed by Lonnie Walker IV to regain the form that saw him named an All-Star after he battled his way back to fitness after two injury-plagued seasons.
The Brooklyn Nets star's showings during pre-season have been reminiscent of his Philadelphia 76ers days after he was re-instated as the point guard for the team. His 2022-23 season was curtailed amid a nerve impingement issue in his back, while he was absent for the entirety of the 2021-22 season.
In all, he has managed just 22 games in the last two seasons but the Nets will be hoping they can count on the resurgent star this time around. Their need for the 27-year-old to rediscover his form and fitness is all the more pressing following the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Now, his teammate Walker has explained that Simmons has showed real improvement during pre-season, especially with his old athleticism and aggression having been on show. In fact, he contends that he has witnessed the resurgent star doing 'a lot of things he hasn’t done in the last two years'.
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He explained: "His offensive side is going to come, but his defensive energy has been amazing. His ability to pass is one of the best attributes in my opinion. He sees the floor. He sees everybody and it can be very dangerous to stop what he does."
The Nets' new shooting guard also praised Simmons for helping him to improve certain attributes of his own game, with the pair seemingly sharing an understanding. Even in their brief time together since Walker joined from the Los Angeles Lakers, it is clear that his teammate has made a lasting impression.
He continued, saying: "When you have players like Ben who are such great playmakers, it kind of makes you more on the aggressive end on the offensive flow of the game. Just knowing what I’m capable of doing.
The resurgent Ben Simmons has earned plaudits for his performances in pre-season for the Brooklyn Nets (Dustin Satloff/Getty Images))"Catch and shoot threes. Drive and get into the lane. With Ben in transition, him grabbing a rebound, and I go. He makes the game a lot easier to play."
The pair will begin the season together as the Nets take on the Cleveland Cavaliers on the opening night of their NBA campaign on Wednesday. Head coach Jacque Vaughn has now predicted that Simmons and center Nic Claxon can also strike up a decent partnership in the coming months.
He said: "I’ve told this group is we have to stop and we can’t look at it as a negative … if we have an open mind. In today’s game, with the five out, we can play five out still with those guys.
"You saw the other night we had Nic Claxton in the corner. He’s more comfortable playing in the corner than he was a year ago. That’s a weapon for us. We get [Simmons] to play in the pocket. Those two can play together."
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