SAN DIEGO — Ben Simmons doesn’t know the way lengthy he’ll be taking part in in Brooklyn.
He doesn’t even know the way lengthy he’ll be taking part in within the NBA.
However for so long as he’s with these younger Nets, he says he desires to guide them.
For a three-time All-Star — the one All-Star on this rebuilding roster — that must be a given.
However with Simmons, few issues have been given recently.
Not his subsequent contract. Or his availability. Or his well being, bodily or psychological.
“We’ve got a youthful group that I wish to assist these guys get higher. I wish to lead by instance. I wish to compete,” Simmons instructed The Put up. “Jordi [Fernandez, coach] is coming in first yr. It’s an enormous yr for him. I wish to be a frontrunner on this group.
“So f–ok what occurs subsequent yr, and what contract I get, if I get a contract. I wish to do my job whereas I’m right here and be skilled and assist these guys in any approach I can. So who is aware of? I wish to play so long as my physique will enable me. So if it’s one yr, 5 years, six years, I don’t know what it’s. However I simply wish to preserve going till I can’t anymore.”
It’s unattainable to speak about Simmons with out speaking in regards to the twin elephants within the room: his contract and his again.
He’s acutely conscious that many followers really feel his greatest contribution to the Nets might be leaving, with a $40.3 million expiring contract that may depart subsequent summer season.
He’s conscious sufficient that he’s taken the steps of largely avoiding social media and Twitter/X altogether.
Now that he says his again is lastly wholesome, he desires to maintain his headspace that approach, too.
And which means avoiding on-line bile.
“To me, being on a social media platform the place you’re simply taking in what everyone’s saying, I don’t suppose that’s wholesome for anyone to simply be studying issues about themselves,” Simmons instructed The Put up. “For me, I don’t personally go on Twitter or X simply because I don’t discover any use in it.”
Simmons has missed 189 of 246 video games over the prior three seasons with psychological well being points and nerve impingements that pressured two microscopic partial discectomies, the second in March.
His lack of availability prompted on-line hate, together with accusations that he was completely wholesome and stealing cash.
“Individuals make feedback saying I’m robbing. No. After I bought that contract, I used to be taking part in at a brilliant excessive stage. Sadly, I had accidents,” he mentioned. “However for any person to say that, it’s disrespectful. [But] individuals can say what they wish to say. They’ve bought to stay with it. On the finish of the day all of it catches up with you.”
The brand new coach concurred.
“A wholesome Ben Simmons is a really, excellent participant — that’s what I give attention to,” Fernandez mentioned. “I don’t have social media. I do know that on the finish of the day, social media brings the worst out of individuals, as a result of if you wish to be heard you need to say one thing destructive. And at all times one destructive trumps 10 positives. [But] I’m pleased with the place Ben is, how he’s displaying up day by day.”
That’s an enormous enchancment. Tuesday’s preseason-opening loss to the Clippers marked Simmons’ first stay motion since Feb. 26.
Compelled to play heart because of the absence of Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe, he shot 1 of 5 and nonetheless didn’t go onerous to the rim.
However when he bought on the ball within the second quarter, he led a Nets blitz to get again within the sport.
With spacing a non-issue because of the absence of a standard huge clogging the lane, Simmons ran the break at a blistering tempo. Typically too blistering.
“For positive. We’ve bought to catch as much as him. He’s actually good at that, and getting guys concerned,” Ziaire Williams mentioned. “He sees the ground extraordinarily nicely. His IQ is certainly subsequent stage, among the finest within the league at it. So yeah, man, we bought to play off of him. … Guys are new. We’ll get there.”
On a group with few shot creators, operating the lanes and filling the corners might be key to maximise what Simmons does.
No less than, a wholesome Simmons.
“Yeah, when he rebounds and pushes, I don’t suppose a variety of our guys are used to taking part in with him but,” Fernandez mentioned. “He beat everyone down the ground. He was already within the paint and no one was there with him. So we’ve gotta ensure that we’re able to catch, as a result of he’s going to throw you the ball. We’re able to run to the corners, as a result of he’ll discover you and you then gotta be able to shoot.
“Yeah, a wholesome Ben Simmons is a really, very, very, excellent basketball participant. Three-time All-Star. That’s what we bought proper now.”
