Nets' Simmons: 'I want to be better than an All-Star'

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is hoping to take his game to another level this season.

"I want to be back where I was. I want to be an All-Star. I want to be better than an All-Star. That's where I want to be," Simmons told Christopher Riley of Esquire Australia. "I never try to live with myself. I'm never like, well, hopefully, maybe I get a couple votes in an All-Star Game. Nah, if that's the case, I might as well be fishing."

Simmons was a three-time All-Star and two-time NBA All-Defensive first-team selection during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers. He led the Association in steals (2.1 per game) and earned an All-NBA third-team nod in 2019-20.

The LSU product struggled to recapture that form during his first campaign with the Nets, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 boards, 6.1 assists, and 1.3 steals over 42 appearances last season. Brooklyn shut Simmons down early due to a nerve issue in his back.

Simmons is healthy again and showing why he was the No. 1 overall pick in 2016. He's been lively on both ends of the floor, including an eight-point, nine-assist, and three-steal performance in his most recent preseason appearance against his former club.

"I feel amazing," Simmons said. "Now, versus how I was playing last season, it's night and day.

"Being able to go through a whole session; play, get hit, get up, sprint, dunk, do all these things and then be able to walk perfectly normal and feel like nothing happened is the best thing I've been able to experience in the last four or five months. Because all I want to do is hoop and do my job."