The Brooklyn Nets still haven’t given up on three-time All-Star Ben Simmons despite his struggles since joining the team in 2022. Speaking with reporters on Tuesday, Nets’ general manager Sean Marks said that he believes Simmons will bounce back and put on a much better display this upcoming season.
According to Marks, Simmons is in a better physical shape than he ever was during his time in Brooklyn, and the Nets plan to “unleash” him when the 2023-24 campaign starts.
“Let’s not dwell on the past, he’s feeling confident about where he is physically,” Marks said. “This is more like, get out here, support him and unleash him. If he’s feeling great, then let him go.”
Simmons landed in Brooklyn midway through the 2021-22 season in a trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. But the move worked out poorly for the Nets so far, as Simmons couldn’t stay healthy and performed poorly when available.
Back injury prevented Simmons from playing a single game for the Nets in 2021-22, and the same issue on top of knee soreness limited him to 42 games last season. The former first-overall pick finished the campaign averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game.
