"It was definitely rowdier then”: Shams Charania says Ben Simmons was let off easily by Philadelphia 76ers fans on return as compared to last year
Brooklyn Nets wing Ben Simmons has started to find his groove. After a slow start to the 2022-23 season, Simmons faced his biggest challenge yet: playing in front of his former fan base.
Simmons spent the early portion of his NBA career as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. After a disappointing exit in a playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks in 2021, Simmons wanted a fresh start. He requested a trade, standing firm on his desire to have a new team.
Eventually, the talented wing was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February. After a number of setbacks, Simmons finally made his return to the NBA court this season. The basketball world waited anxiously to see what type of response Simmons would get in his first game back in Philadelphia.
On “FanDuel TV,” NBA insider Shams Charania said that he believes the response from 76ers fans wasn’t as rowdy as before. Simmons made an appearance with the Brooklyn Nets last year but was sidelined due to injury.
“I was there last year in March, and he was booed very much more significantly. … It was definitely more rowdy then, way more than it was last night.”
Ben Simmons starting to impress with the Brooklyn Nets
The Brooklyn Nets came into the season with plenty of question marks. One of the biggest questions involved the return of Ben Simmons to the NBA court.
Simmons has shown the ability over the years to be one of the league's most versatile players. He’s a dominant defensive talent who can guard multiple positions at an elite level. While Simmons’ outside shot has always been in question, the hope was that wouldn’t be an issue in Brooklyn.
Ben Simmons last 3 games:
15 PTS | 13 REB | 7 AST
22 PTS | 8 REB | 5 AST
11 PTS | 7 REB | 11 AST
80.8 FG% over that stretch. https://t.co/IHaCXlBKrO
Playing alongside superstars Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the hope was that Simmons’ ability could thrive. Despite being 6-foot-10, Simmons has the playmaking ability and handles of a smaller guard. After missing a year of game experience, Simmons, the No. 1 pick in 2016, showed plenty of rust to start out the season.
In his first nine games, Simmons averaged 5.2 points, 6.2 rebounds and 5.9 assists per game. But recently, it looks as if Ben Simmons is starting to get his groove back. Over his last four games, Simmons is averaging 14.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 6.5 assists per game while shooting 78.8%.
Simmons had 11 points, seven rebounds and 11 assists, but Brooklyn fell 115-106 on Tuesday in Philadelphia.