Ben Simmons quoted back pain to abort a plans to make his debut in the season in Game 4 Nets-Celtics tonight
Unsurprisingly, there’s more to the story with Simmons, who cited mental health problems in not playing for the 76ers earlier this season.
Rich Paul, the CEO of Klutch Sports, the agent of Ben Simmons, met today along with Ben Simmons and Sean Marks, the general manager of the Nets, his leadership in Brooklyn to talk about what everyone needed to do together to continue working in a plan. to get Ben Simmons back on the court in Brooklyn. And what came out very clear from that meeting for both sides was, as much as the physical comeback for Ben Simmons, it’s still the mental comeback. And the feeling today was that he needed more support, he needed more help to get there. And listen, Brooklyn believes: They’ve seen Ben Simmons struggle in both areas, both physically and mentally, since he came to the Nets in their trade. They watched him build up the last two weeks until Sunday, when they thought he was about to play Monday night in Brooklyn. That had been Ben Simmons’ plan to play tonight. That had been the Nets’ plan with him. And I think your correct understanding right now is that it’s going to require not only more lower back work, but there’s still a mental health part of this equation that the Nets and Rich Paul, Ben Simmons have to continue to work on. together.
I think there was a good conversation today and a feeling that there is more work to be done. But the one thing I know both sides got out of it today was Ben Simmons reiterating to the Nets that he wants to play basketball. He wants to play on this team. He needs more help to get there.
Simmons reportedly told the 76ers that I wanted to play for them but I wasn’t mentally preparedalso.
Of course, Simmons doesn’t. request an exchange of Brooklyn as it did with Philadelphia. The team-player relationship has also not become so resentful like he did with the 76ers. Communication clearly has not broken down like he did with the 76ers.
But the Nets acquired Simmons so he play for them as they chase a championship. Whether you blame him or circumstances beyond his control or some combination, he’s not messing around.
Now the questions come back. what Simmons is doing to mentally prepare to fulfill his contract and play Y what the team is doing to help you. As had been discussed for months in Philadelphia.
Newer to the process, Brooklyn seems much more optimistic about helping Simmons work through his problems. Still, exasperation is already installing.
