Kevin Durant could have stayed with the Nets if Ben Simmons was healthy.
There is no doubt that Ben Simmons was once considered one of the best young talents in the league, but as of right now, many are low on him because of how he played with the Brooklyn Nets last season. However, Simmons seemed to be closer to his past self in the latest preseason game with the Nets, tallying 10 points, three assists, and one steal in limited playing time. It is quite clear that Simmons can be an impactful player when fully healthy.
A lot of players hold Simmons in high regard when he’s healthy and aggressive on offense, and Brian Lewis of The New York Post revealed that Kevin Durant would have been willing to stay with the Nets if Simmons was fully healthy.
“If Simmons had been healthy last season, sources told The Post that Kevin Durant likely would’ve stayed on in Brooklyn even without Kyrie Irving.”
Things could have been different for the Nets had Simmons been healthy last season. A Durand and Simmons duo could have been lethal. However, the team is still in a good position right now, as they acquired forwards Mikal Bridges and Cam Johnson by trading Durant, as well as plenty of draft compensation.
Last season, Simmons averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game for the Nets. Hopefully, we see him be more assertive on offense now that he’s fully healthy, and his outing in preseason was certainly very encouraging.
Ben Simmons Wants To Have A Resurgence This Season
There is no doubt that Simmons is motivated going into this season, and if he can have an elite season, that will change things significantly for the Nets. Previously, we saw Simmons state that he owes Nets fans a comeback season.
“I owe it to everybody, the fans, and everybody, to get back to where I need to be. That’s what I did this summer — to get back. Get ready for a great year. I think it’s going to be exciting, we’re going to have a lot of fun. Get back to Brooklyn basketball.”
It will be interesting to see whether Simmons will actually be able to have an elite season with the Nets. The key for him is being confident in his ability and staying healthy, and as of right now, it definitely seems as though Simmons is on the right track.
Ben Simmons Has The Talent To Be Impactful
When he is at his best, it is fair to say that Simmons is a two-way player who has an impact in multiple areas on the court. He is a multi-positional defender, who is comfortable guarding one through five, and he certainly uses his athleticism effectively on that end of the floor.
Offensively, Simmons is a quality slasher and has top-tier vision and playmaking ability. Even if he isn’t a perimeter scorer right now, he can clearly be an elite offensive player on a team with a lot of spacing. The key is certainly him consistently staying in attack mode and driving to the rim relentlessly.
Hopefully, we see Simmons have a productive year for the Nets. He could be an x-factor for the team in their pursuit of the playoffs, and we’ll see how the season unfolds for him.
