"We’re going to shake the NBA": Brooklyn Nets star makes resounding statement as healthy Ben Simmons' comeback beckons
In 2022 and 2023, Ben Simmons shared photos of his training sessions and workouts, giving Brooklyn Nets fans hopes of bounce-back campaigns. However, the Australian ended up playing 42 games in the former and just 15 in the latter. Knee and back injuries limited him to 57 games, 45 as a starter, over the last two seasons.
As of 2024, Simmons has scrubbed those photos off his Instagram account and has been mum about his summer workouts. Dorian Finney-Smith, one of Simmons' teammates with the Nets, kept that trend of offseason hype.
In an interview with the New York Post, the former Dallas Mavericks forward had this to say about next season regarding Ben Simmons:
“People don’t know how healthy Ben [Simmons] is going to be. But we’ve been seeing him for the last four weeks and he looks great. So, if bro gets back on the court, I feel like it’s gonna help our team a lot, and we’re going to shake the NBA.”
Dorian Finney-Smith added that the Brooklyn Nets aren’t looking to tank or rebuild, particularly if “Ben is Ben.” Convincing even Nets fans that they are not headed in that direction will be a tough job. Losing Mikal Bridges, the team’s best player, was a big blow. Not having a clear No. 1 go-to option on offense is another problem hounding the Nets.
If Ben Simmons returns to his All-Star form in Philadelphia, asking him to carry the Brooklyn Nets is a tall task. Simmons has never been a good scorer, and his defense has become suspect over the last two seasons. The three-time All-Star has to shake off the injury bug before new coach Jordi Fernandez can ask him to do more.
Nets have more question marks besides Ben Simmons to “shake the NBA”
Mikal Bridges wasn’t just one of the Brooklyn Nets’ scoring leaders, but he was also their best and most versatile defender. Bridges averaged 19.6 points on 43.6% shooting, including 37.2% from deep with 4.5 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game. He was easily their most consistent and impactful player on both ends of the floor.
Replacing Bridges’ production will be tough, even with Ben Simmons healthy. Asking Simmons to be the same two-way force he was three or four years ago may be asking too much of him. Helping him regain his confidence has to be one of Jordi Fernandez’s biggest tasks.
Simmons’ health isn’t the only question mark that will follow the Nets all season. Brooklyn had a bottom 10 defensive rating last season, an issue that could surface again. Fernandez is expected to start Cam Thomas, last season’s leading scorer, and Dennis Schroder, an undersized pairing that will be defensively challenged.
Can Dorian Finney-Smith do more than play defense and launch catch-and-shoot 3-pointers? To help his team “shake the NBA,” Finney-Smith will have to step up on both ends of the floor.
Brooklyn’s interior could be decent on defense behind Nic Claxton. Inside scoring, though, will be a problem. Claxton and backup big man Day’Ron Sharpe have never been consistent interior bucket-getters. They mostly rely on lobs and follow-ups for their points.
Getting a healthy and confident Ben Simmons back will be a boost to the Brooklyn Nets’ campaign. Shaking up the NBA, though, is a different matter.