During an interview with NBA reporter Brian Lewis of The New York Post, Brooklyn Nets point-forward Ben Simmons said he is going to be better this season than he was when he made three All-Star teams with the Philadelphia 76ers.
“I’m going to be better than I was,” Simmons said. “My job is just to show up, perform, work my ass off and lead this team the right way. So it’s doing all the little things, and everything else takes care of itself.”
Simmons won the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Award and made three All-Star teams, one All-NBA team and two All-Defensive teams with the Sixers. The lefty dealt with knee and back issues last season and only appeared in 42 games for the Nets, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets Updates
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 this season for the Nets. Simmons may not be a good shooter still, but he remains a terrific passer and defender.
“We laugh on the bus. I’m telling Do [Finney-Smith], ‘Yo, just trust me, space the floor. When you get it, knock them motherf–kers down. Shoot the ball.’ It’s a fun thing when you come out here and get to compete at that level every day and your guys got your back; it’s just fun,” Simmons said. “I keep telling them I’m going to get you guys a lot of easy shots. And it’s just fun. When you’re able to play the game that way, and somebody’s going to look out for you and they trust you and you trust them, it’s a good satisfaction watching that type of basketball.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons, Philadelphia 76ers, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets open the 2023-24 season on October 25 versus the Cleveland Cavaliers at home. Simmons started in the preseason for Brooklyn, so he’s expected to start in the regular season as well.
Want the latest NBA analysis, breaking news, and insider information? Click Here. Follow NBA Analysis Network on Twitter and Facebook.
Interested in reading the latest storylines and analysis in the NFL? Check out our partner NFL Analysis Network.
