Google News Seth Curry shares thoughts on Ben Simmons' NBA return
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Seth Curry says Ben Simmons will face several challenges in his NBA return but adds the Australian guard is a very talented and skilled player who could be the cornerstone for the Brooklyn Nets in the years to come. Simmons missed the entire 2021/22 season as last summer he requested a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers and refused to play until he was traded.
In February, Simmons was traded to the Nets but his return was pushed back several times and the guard ended up without suiting up a single time last season. Every time Simmons would start ramping up his preparation to return, he would start experiencing back problems.
After the season ended, Simmons sat with the Nets' brass and reiterated his desire to be with the franchise for the yars to come. “There are always challenges. Foremost, he has missed a whole season. It is going to be a challenge getting his rhythm back playing basketball,” Curry told The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald in Australia.
“I don’t know specifically what he has been through, mentally — that’s hard for me to comment on — but having that year off, having that time off, of competing and playing five-on-five basketball is going to be just as hard, just taking some time and getting re-acclimated to playing high-level basketball, but he is a special talent, has all the skills.
The Nets need him on the floor”.
Curry says Simmons is an All-Star caliber player
Kevin Durant wants out of Brooklyn and Kyrie Irving is believed to be also available in trade talks. If the Nets trade both Durant and Irving before the next season starts, Simmons might be the player the Nets turn to building their franchise around.
Simmons, the first overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft, has missed two entire full seasons since entering the NBA but he has also had three season which resulted in an All-Star selection. Curry feels Simmons is still one of the most talented players in the league and someone who can make a difference on the floor.
“Obviously, he is an All-Star-caliber player,” Curry said. “Obviously, he is trying to make the most of this offseason, get back healthy physically and mentally. Like I say, he had a year off, it’s going to be good for him to get back out on the court and get re-acclimated.
He creates a lot of three-point shots for his teammates. Obviously, it helps me a lot, to get good shots. The pick-and-roll game, and the hand-off game, the two-man game, he is a good guy rolling to the rim and finishing. Defensively he can guard a lot of positions”.
