Report: Nets frustrated by Simmons' unavailability, performance
Brooklyn Nets coaching staff and players have been concerned by Ben Simmons' lack of availability and his poor performance as the organization's frustration with him builds, sources told The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick.
Coaches and players have reportedly also questioned his passion for playing basketball.
Simmons missed four games this season with knee soreness. Since he returned earlier in November, the former All-Star has come off the bench as the backup center to Nic Claxton. Simmons was also a late scratch against the Los Angeles Lakers on Nov. 13.
In 10 games for the Nets, Simmons has averaged career lows across the board. The 26-year-old is putting up 5.8 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.6 assists, and 1.1 steals in 26 minutes per game.
The Nets held a players-only meeting Oct. 29 after a loss to the Indiana Pacers in which veteran forward Markieff Morris said the team needs Simmons to succeed and Simmons needs to improve the way he responds to adversity on the court, sources told Charania and Amick.
Simmons had his best performance in Tuesday night's 153-121 loss to the Sacramento Kings. In 20 minutes, he scored a season-high 11 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, and a steal.
"I get (the skepticism about my injuries), but I think the one thing with me is that I'm a competitor," Simmons said Tuesday. "I want to win and play. So I'm gonna do what I can to get out there."
Simmons said he understood why his absences had attracted criticism and said he's been working to remain available despite his knee soreness.
"You're obviously not gonna be happy when anybody's out," Simmons said. "But for me, I've been dealing with the knee since the start of the season. It's been swollen. I had PRP (injections). I had blood drained a couple times. So it's not a made-up thing, you know? It's a real thing."
Before this season, Simmons last played in June 2021 for the Philadelphia 76ers in their Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the Eastern Conference semifinals. He sat out the entirety of last season, citing mental health issues, before being traded to the Nets and missing the postseason with a herniated disc.
"A lot of stuff was going on with me, physically, to where it was tough," Simmons said. "But there's only so much I can say for somebody to believe."
The Nets are 6-9, good for 12th in the Eastern Conference. They face the Portland Trail Blazers on Friday. Tipoff is slated for 10 p.m. ET.