According to NBA reporter Marc J. Spears of Andscape, Brooklyn Nets point-forward Ben Simmons wants to be an “All-Star again.”
Simmons hasn’t been an All-Star since the 2020-21 season.
Simmons only appeared in 42 games last season due to knee and back issues. He averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets acquired Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers in the blockbuster James Harden trade during the 2021-22 season. Simmons missed the entire 2021-22 season due to a holdout and back injury. He was projected to be one of the faces of the NBA just a few years ago after winning the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Award and making three All-Star teams, one All-NBA team and two All-Defensive teams with the Sixers.
However, Simmons never developed a jump shot and he’s now considered one of the most overrated players in the NBA. In 317 games with the Sixers and Nets, Simmons has made only five 3-pointers. The LSU product signed a massive five-year, $177.2 million maximum rookie contract extension with Philadelphia in 2019. Simmons, 27, will make $37.9 million next season.
The first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons has career averages of 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists. It will be fascinating to see how he plays next season for the Nets.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
“For me to come back and dominate people will be great,” Simmons told Spears in an August interview. “I don’t intend to come back the same player I was last [season], because that’s not even close to where I am. I get excited because I’m like, ‘Damn, I would [expletive] on the player I was last year.’ But I know where I was at last year, so it’s easy to say that. But it’s just fun to go and do the thing that you love when you’re out there. That’s really it for me. I don’t really ask for too much.”
Simmons never thought about requesting a trade from the Nets last season after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving asked for trades. The Nets traded Durant to the Phoenix Suns and Irving to the Dallas Mavericks.
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