The anticipation and excitement for the upcoming basketball season is reaching its peak, and fans are eager to see their favorite players back on the court. One player who has been generating a lot of buzz is Ben Simmons.
“I was able to get pilates in almost every day, lifting weights taking care of my body, getting back to 100%,” Simmons shared. “So I’ve just been trying to go overboard with that, and be prepared to be down there (in Orlando) and play.”
The hiatus during the previous season had come at a good time for Simmons personally. After playing the first three games in the Disney bubble, he decided to shut it down for a while. However, by October, he was back on the court looking good in private workouts with other Klutch clients.
Simmons had a stellar ’20-’21 season, making the first team All-Defense and finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. Despite his success, the season ended in disappointment as he passed up a crucial layup in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks. This raised questions about his position as a point guard in the eyes of Sixers coach Doc Rivers.
After the season, Simmons was back in the gym working on his game, even shooting transition threes. However, he ultimately decided that he wanted a trade. This led to him missing the entirety of the ’21-’22 season while dealing with mental health issues.
In February 2022, Simmons was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets, setting the stage for his highly anticipated comeback. Despite being acquired two months earlier, the Nets had yet to see him on the court. As the team prepared to face the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs in April 2022, reports surfaced that Simmons had been making significant progress in his recovery.
According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons had been “running and shooting pain-free for over a week,” leading the Nets to believe he was close to returning. The NBA postseason schedule was seen as a favorable factor in Simmons’ comeback timeline, fueling excitement among fans and media.
Simmons further added to the hype by confidently stating that spectators should watch out for his dunks during practice. However, he did not end up playing in the playoff series against the Boston Celtics, as the Nets were swept.
As the ’22-’23 season kicked off, reports surfaced that Simmons was entering the season in top shape. The Associated Press ran a story highlighting his return to full health, with Simmons himself expressing how “amazing” and “great” he felt.
The basketball world eagerly awaits Simmons’ return to the court, eager to see how he will perform with his new team and make his mark in the league once again.
