Between injuries and trades, some talented players never return to the players they once were. Whether it’s confidence or their body not being able to perform like it once was able to, athletes can lose their jobs in an instant; especially in the NBA.
Life in the NBA moves quickly, and in the blink of an eye, talented players could be on the outside looking in. This former top overall pick knows that more than anyone.
"Ben Simmons is back to playing All-Star talent level basketball,” writes NBA trainer Chris Brickley in a recent Instagram post. “Big season loading."
Simmons was the No. 1 overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA Draft after a monster freshman year at LSU. The 6-foot-10 guard was compared to LeBron James and Magic Johnson coming out of college, and for a while, those comparisons looked to be spot on.
Throughout his tenure with the Sixers, the playmaker struggled to develop a jump shot, and over time, it seemingly took a toll on his confidence. After a poor postseason performance in 2021, the rowdy fans of Philadelphia turned on Simmons, which led to a series of events following the fractured relationship.
Simmons suffered an injury in the next season and refused to suit up for the 76ers. At the time, the Brooklyn Nets were going through a rough patch with a star player of their own requesting a trade. Ultimately, the stars aligned and after months of drama, Simmons landed in Brooklyn in a deal for Philadelphia to acquire James Harden.
Since joining the Nets, the 28-year-old has dealt with injuries once again. The guard has played in a total of 57 games through two and a half seasons with his new squad.
However, NBA trainer Chris Brinkley has posted several workout videos throughout the offseason claiming that the former All-Star is fully healthy and back to his former self.
This report should be a welcome sign for Brooklyn fans who desperately need some good news for their team.
More NBA: Pistons signing former NC State standout ahead of training camp
