Ben Simmons was involved in the biggest deal at this season's trade deadline, headling a package from the 76ers to the Nets for James Harden.
It's still unknown when Simmons will make his debut with the Nets — he said in his press conference last week that he doesn't have a date yet but is "starting to ramp it up"— but he finds himself in an opportunity in Brooklyn to compete for a championship alongside two of the league's biggest stars in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Helping Simmons reach his full potential will be Nets guard and fellow Australian Patty Mills, who said during his media availability at All-Star Weekend that he's been looking forward to teaming up with Simmons and believes he can play a mentorship role.
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"As I've said before, I've really looked forward to the opportunity of playing with Ben closely and being in the same locker room and just wanting to be a part of his growth and his development, whether that's on-court or off-court," said Mills. "I feel like there was a big piece of me that can help him in any aspect, really, so being close with him and his family and, I guess, being that mentor from afar meant a lot for me.
"Now, again, being in an opportunity to be in the same locker room as him, I'm just really excited to get on the floor with him first of all and knowing how exciting that combination can be with the rest of the pieces of the puzzle that we have in Brooklyn."
Ben Simmons has arrived.
— 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 Canada 🇨🇦 (@sportingnewsca) February 14, 2022
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Mills added that Simmons seems to be in a "good place" and is excited about what's to come with the Nets.
"From what I've seen from Ben so far and the conversations that I've had with him, he's in a really good place. Mentally, he's enjoying, he's excited, there's a hungriness to him that I see, like a fierce hungriness that he's been waiting to be let out of the cage almost and pounce at this opportunity, to be able to compete for a championship and knowing that I'm here as well, I think, gives him a lot of comfort.
"I'm looking forward to having this break and getting back with him and getting on the court and giving this thing a really good, hot crack to win a championship, and he's going to be a massive piece of that puzzle."
With Durant currently sidelined with an MCL injury and Irving's part-time availability, the Nets have hit a rough patch lately, falling to eighth place in the Eastern Conference standings. However, it sounds like Durant could return soon, and the Nets are hopeful of a change to the local vaccine mandate in New York City that would pave the way for Irving to be available for home games.
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Simmons has yet to play a game this season but he's one of the league's best young stars. Boasting career averages of 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game, he's earned three All-Star selections, two All-Defensive First Team selections and one All-NBA Third Team selection since being picked first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft.
Brooklyn's first game back following the All-Star break is against Boston on Feb. 24.
