Expectations of Ben Simmons are high entering a new NBA season and a lot of that comes back to what the 26-year-old has said all summer.
That this is “the best” his body has felt “in a long time”. That the difference between this season and last is “night and day”.
The Australian has already shown flashes during the preseason that it is not just talk, attacking the rim with confidence and even attempting behind-the-back passes and fadeaway jumpers.
The signs are all there that Simmons could actually be back after an injury-interrupted 2022-23 season. It was just the preseason though.
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Now Simmons has a chance to prove himself when it matters as the Brooklyn Nets open their new season against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center on Thursday [AEDT].
More than anything, it will be interesting to see how Brooklyn’s offence looks as the Nets look to really push the pace in transition and Simmons will be at the heart of that change.
Speaking hours before Wednesday’s game, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn made it clear playing in the halfcourt offensively is not going to be a focus given the other strengths of their roster.
Vaughn also said the team would likely stagger Simmons and Nic Claxton’s minutes so as to not exacerbate any spacing issues with the pair sharing the court.
Meanwhile, Cavaliers coach J.B. Bickerstaff also had plenty of good things to say about Simmons before Thursday’s game, declaring he “has been an All-Star for a reason”.
“The conversation around him, you know, is unfair to an extent. He’s a hell of a basketball player,” Bickerstaff said.
“He’s been an All-Star for a reason… I don’t think all that has disappeared as much as people want to claim.”
Simmons was asked about whether he has anything in particular to prove this season and given all the three-time All-Star has been through, it was quite an easy question to answer.
“I feel like you know the answer to that,” he said.
“That’s simple: Get back to where I was, compete at the highest level and make an impact in the game. Me, I want to win. That’s all I want to do. That’s the No. 1 priority, winning.”
Although in the process of winning Simmons can also silence a few of his critics, who teammate Spencer Dinwiddie said will motivate the Australian every time he steps out on the court.
“I mean, how could he not?” Dinwiddie said when asked if Simmons feels like he has a point to prove.
“There’s a lot of people that doubt him, and he firmly feels like he’s that All-Star, All-NBA, All-Defensive team guy and he’s coming out to prove it.
“I think he’s going to do that every night. He’s going to lead us to a lot of wins. It’s really on us to try to match his talent level because he’s reached a peak that nobody on our team has reached and played at a higher level than any of us have. So it’s on us to be the best supporting cast we can.”
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Dinwiddie, who regularly shot at 40 per cent from deep at Dallas before making the move to Brooklyn, will play a particularly important role capitalising on the open looks Simmons will create by zipping the ball up the court in transition.
“We definitely have to get used to filling corners and running hard and matching his pace and his philosophy in the way he plays,” Dinwiddie said.
“He’s an extremely dynamic guy and we have to try our best to keep up with his talent. To play with a talent as great as his is an honour.”
