During an interview with NBA reporter Michael Scotto of HoopsHype, Spencer Dinwiddie discussed what the Brooklyn Nets “need” from Ben Simmons this season.
Dinwiddie believes Simmons can return to being an All-Star and All-Defensive player.
“Yeah, for sure. If you look at his age, he should be getting ready to start peaking now,” Dinwiddie said about Simmons. “Then it comes down to health, and you look at who he’s been historically. We need him to be an All-NBA, All-Defensive Team, All-Star-level guy for us to be good. We can’t make any guarantees, but that’s what we need to be a good team.”
Simmons 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. The former Philadelphia 76ers star is 100% healthy and looked pretty good in the preseason.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Spencer Dinwiddie, Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
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. Dinwiddie, who played for the Dallas Mavericks and Nets last season, knows that for Brooklyn to make the playoffs this season, Simmons will have to play at an elite level.
“It’s to make the playoffs and roll the dice from there and see how far we can take it,” Dinwiddie said. “There are a lot of unknowns. We hope that Ben Simmons gets to that All-NBA level. If he does that and is able to lead us, we’ll pick up a lot more wins than expected right now.”
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Spencer Dinwiddie, Ben Simmons, Brooklyn Nets Updates
The Nets open the season versus the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dinwiddie, Simmons, Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Dorian Finney-Smith are expected to start for Brooklyn.
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