A few days into the preseason, Ben Simmons made his return to the Brooklyn Nets court for the first time after months of absence. Such an event was anxiously awaiting many fans in California, but the former NBA star went short of expectations.
Having had limited minutes and then also performing underwhelmingly, Simmons has put a question mark over his readiness for the coming season for many fans, judging him by his stats.
Simmons Wasn't Ready Yet For NBA
Simmons played for the first time since February, and in 13 minutes of playtime, he could only rise to two points, two rebounds, three assists, and one steal on the floor. According to Sports Illustrated, what makes it worse is his 1-for-5 basket from the field. Very far from what fans would have loved to see from him, the Nets lost to the Clippers 115-106.
Ben Simmons Return: Fans Sound Off on Social Media
Social media quickly reacted to Simmons' return, as fans voiced disappointment and cautious optimism.
One fan, @BrooklynNetcast, tweeted, "The Brooklyn Nets aren't winning 20 games man, look at Ben Simmons out there," adding that it brought a sense of balance to the situation by saying, "Tweet is hyperbolic, still rooting for Ben and the Nets will win more than 20 games." Others felt more about how Simmons can be an asset to his team like @NetsKingdomAJ said: "Ben Simmons with a nice pass to new Brooklyn Net Ziaire Williams." While doing less than many want from him, some hope he'll round his game into solid shape throughout the season.
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Flashback: How Was Simmons' Last Season?
Simmons appeared in only 15 games of the 2022-2023 season due to injuries. He ended the year with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists on a 58.1% field-goal shooting clip. There was no lack of availability and underperforming games that raised questions about his future presence with the team.
Indeed New York Post was right when Simmons wasn't fully healthy during the Nets' training camp last year even before his injury.
What's Next For Brooklyn Nets?
The regular season for the Brooklyn Nets will kick off on Oct. 23 when they will host the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena.
With Simmons back in the fold, everyone will be looking for him to shake off his offseason struggles and be able to lead his team to victory. Fans are hoping this is simply rust and the regular season will bring Ben Simmons out of his bad shape.
Related Article: Nets: Ben Simmons Needs to Pick the Pace to Meet Greatness Expectations
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