(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The Brooklyn Nets made the most of the James Harden situation by acquiring a promising and still young player like Ben Simmons, who was also under contract for many years.
But the early returns of Simmons’ tenure in Brooklyn were far from encouraging.
From injuries to mental blocks to an evident lack of confidence, the former No. 1 pick struggled to make an impact in the handful of games he was available for the franchise.
He finally seems ready to make a comeback and prove the doubters wrong.
But the fans have seen and heard that way too many times already, which is why they’ve reached a point in which they’ll just have to see it to believe it.
With that in mind, NBA insider Tina Cervasio went on his defense on SiriusXM NBA Radio, stating that there’s a different feeling about him this time.
Ben Simmons is expected to be ready for Nets Training Camp @TinaCervasio joined @TheFrankIsola and @Scalabrine after interviewing Ben and told the guys his mindset as he looks to get back on the floor for the Brooklyn Nets#NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/qNOTMBycRm
— SiriusXM NBA Radio (@SiriusXMNBA) September 19, 2023
Cervasio pointed out the fact that Simmons seemed quite aware of the group he’s about to play with, adding that they’re going to have a “team-first” kind of mentality, as opposed to the individual agendas some of his teammates — namely, Joel Embiid — may have had in the past.
Simmons recently acknowledged that he’s in debt to the fans, and that he owes them to them to be at his best.
He’s sounded way more mature in his latest statements to the media, and accountability and motivation could take a player a long way.
No one’s rooting against him, and he’s a special kind of talent.
But the ball is in his court right now; he’ll have to make people believe again.
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