The Brooklyn Nets season is starting to look a lot brighter. Ben Simmons is starting to live up to all the hype surrounding his trade to the Nets while finding a home in Brooklyn.
Ben Simmons Before the Brooklyn Nets
Ben Simmons came from Melbourne, Australia, and played one year of college ball at Louisiana State University. He was the top pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.
He spent five and a half seasons with the Philadelphia 76ers who drafted him. Although he was wildly productive, he was also injury-prone. He held out of the 2021-2022 season.
The 76ers and the Nets found a solution to both of their problems by trading James Harden to the 76ers and Simmons to the Nets. Simmons had averaged 15.9 points per game with more than seven assists and eight rebounds per game during his time with the 76ers.
Simmons has a Slow Start with the Nets
Simmons is an outstanding basketball player, but after the injuries and the holdout, there were some questions about whether or not he was still that good. There were also questions about his mindset, which he admittedly struggled with in Philadelphia.
Ben Simmons’s arrival in Brooklyn only brought more questions. While he appeared on the sidelines with the team, he didn’t take the court for them during the 2021-2022 NBA season. With so much press around Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, Simmons mostly stayed out of the press and shied away from interviews.
He had back surgery and spent the off-season rehabbing. What fans didn’t see was how much support he received from the players and coaches who are part of his new Nets family, even developing a close friendship with starting center Nic Claxton.
Ben Simmons 2022-2023 Season
Simmons didn’t play in the first three games of the season. In his first three games, he only produced a total of 10 points in 54 minutes on the court.
Something just wasn’t right. There were sparks of the old Ben Simmons with nine rebounds and four assists against the Knicks and a nice steal against the Dallas Mavericks, but he just wasn’t taking the shots.
Then on November 15th against the Sacramento Kings, Simmons seemed to find his feet with an 11-point performance alongside five rebounds and three assists.
It seems to be getting better game after game which is good news for Brooklyn Nets fans. Simmons put up a season-high 22 points against the Grizzlies almost clinching a double-double with eight rebounds.
What’s Next for the Nets?
The Brooklyn Nets have a very uncertain future because the team has faced so much turmoil. Kyrie Irving was suspended for eight games, Seth Curry has already missed three games due to injury and the team fired head coach Steve Nash.
There is plenty of season left and veteran players like Durant and Patty Mills know how to lead and keep the team focused.
There are many other high points too. Ben Simmons is starting to produce on offense. Nic Claxton is bigger, healthier, and more aggressive. Seth Curry is getting healthy.
Don’t count the Brooklyn Nets out just yet. They might surprise you!
Watch All Your Favorite NBA Teams at Hibernia Bar in NYC
As Ben Simmons continues to find a home in Brooklyn, don’t miss any of the action as the Nets heat up. Catch the Nets, the Knicks, and watch all of your other favorite NBA games playing all season long on the big screens at Hibernia Bar. And, since we’re talking sports…there’s still time to get excited Steeler Nation!