Nets' Curry: Challenges await Simmons after 1-year absence
Since it's been over a year since Ben Simmons last played in an NBA contest, Brooklyn Nets teammate Seth Curry believes the three-time All-Star faces an uphill battle as he gets up to speed.
"There are always challenges," Curry told Jon Pierik of The Sydney Morning Herald. "Foremost, he has missed a whole season. It is going to be a challenge getting his rhythm back playing basketball.
"I don't know specifically what he has been through, mentally - that's hard for me to comment on - but having that year off, having that time off, of competing and playing five-on-five basketball is going to be just as hard."
Prior to the 2021-22 campaign, Simmons didn't report to the Philadelphia 76ers' training camp after requesting a trade. The 76ers repeatedly fined the former No. 1 overall pick for his continued absence from games and practices.
Brooklyn acquired Simmons from Philadelphia at the trade deadline in a blockbuster deal involving James Harden. The 26-year-old appeared to be nearing a return to play before sustaining a back injury in March.
Simmons was reportedly set to make his Nets debut a month later after being cleared for contact. However, the Aussie native was ruled out of Game 4 of the club's opening-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. He underwent surgery in May to treat the lingering ailment.
Simmons was apparently set to miss three-to-four months, but Curry has already seen him working in the gym this offseason. The Nets sharpshooter is hopeful that Simmons will get back to 100% as he knows what the latter brings to the table.
"Obviously, he is trying to make the most of this offseason, get back healthy physically and mentally," Curry said. "Like I say, he had a year off, it's going to be good for him to get back out on the court and get re-acclimated.
"He creates a lot of 3-point shots for his teammates. Obviously, it helps me a lot, to get good shots. The pick-and-roll game, and the handoff game, the two-man game … he is a good guy rolling to the rim and finishing. Defensively … he can guard a lot of positions."