Simmons sat out half of the final NBA season for the Brooklyn Nets as he struggled to get well from again surgical procedure.
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And it’s been so lengthy since Simmons has performed his greatest basketball that many pundits have are actually labelling the three-time All-Star a “non-factor” on Brooklyn’s roster.
Speaking on ESPN’s broadcast, former LA Clippers and Philadelphia 76ers star J.J. Reddick rattled off Nets gamers Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, Nick Claxton and a number of draft picks as positives for the franchise.
The Nets took Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead with picks 22 and 23 in Friday’s NBA draft.
But Reddick didn’t point out Simmons, who he performed with throughout his time on the Sixers.
That didn’t go unnoticed by ESPN’s draft host Malika Andrews, who stated: “But JJ … we have not even discussed Ben Simmons?”
After an ungainly pause: Reddick replied: “Yeah, I will discuss Ben Simmons when he’s back on the basketball court.”
Reddick went on to name Simmons a buddy and stated: “I still believe in him.”
It was a harsh reminder that the basketball world has nearly moved on from Simmons, himself a former No. 1 draft decide.
Simmons famously handed up an open dunk in Philadelphia’s Game 7 loss to Atlanta in 2021 and was thrown underneath the bus by teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers.
He was then traded to Brooklyn, the place he struggled to get well from main again surgical procedure and didn’t play a sport after the halway level of the season when he was identified with nerve impingement in his again.
Simmons is working in the direction of a return to the courtroom and has just lately posted pictures of himself understanding throughout the low season.
The 26-year-old wasn’t named in Australia’s prolonged squad for August’s FIBA World Cup, however Boomers coach Brian Goorjian has given Simmons an open invitation to attend the Aussie coaching camp on August 1.
2023 NBA Draft – first spherical
1. Victor Wembanyama (C – Metropolitans 92) – San Antonio Spurs
2. Brandon Miller (G – Alabama) – Charlotte Hornets
3. Scoot Henderson (F – G League Ignite) – Portland Trail Blazers
4. Amen Thompson (G – Overtime Elite) – Houston Rockets
5. Ausar Thompson (G/F – Overtime Elite) – Detroit Pistons
6. Anthony Black (G – Arkansas) – Orlando Magic
7. Bilal Coulibaly (G – Metropolitans 92) – Washington Wizards (through Indiana Pacers)
8. Jarace Walker (F – Houston) – Indiana Pacers (through Washington Wizards)
9. Taylor Hendricks (F – UCF) – Utah Jazz
10. Cason Wallace (G – Kentucky) – Oklahoma City Thunder (through Dallas Mavericks)
11. Jett Howard (F – Michigan) – Orlando Magic (through Chicago Bulls)
12. Dereck Lively (C – Duke) – Dallas Mavericks (through Oklahoma City Thunder)
13. Gradey Dick (G – Kansas) – Toronto Raptors
14. Jordan Hawkins (G – UConn) – New Orleans Pelicans
15. Kobe Bufkin (G – Michigan) – Atlanta Hawks
16. Keyonte George (G – Baylor) – Utah Jazz (through Minnesota Timberwolves)
17. Jalen Hood-Schifino (G – Indiana)
18. Jaime Jaquez Jr. (F – UCLA) – Miami Heat
19. Brandin Podziemski (G – Santa Clara) – Golden State Warriors
20. Cam Whitmore (F – Villanova) – Houston Rockets (through Los Angeles Clippers)
21. Noah Clowney (F/C – Alabama) – Brooklyn Nets (through Phoenix Suns)
22. Dariq Whitehead (F – Duke) – Brooklyn Nets
23. Kris Murray (F – Iowa) – Portland Trail Blazers (through New York Knicks)
24. Olivier-Maxence Prosper (F – Marquette) – Dallas Mavericks (through Sacramento Kings)
25. Marcus Sasser (G – Houston) – Detroit Pistons (through Boston Celtics)
26. Ben Sheppard (F – Belmont) – Indiana Pacers (through Cleveland Cavaliers)
27. Nick Smith Jr. (G – Arkansas) – Charlotte Hornets (through Denver Nuggets)
28. Brice Sensabaugh (G/F – Ohio State) – Utah Jazz (through Philadelphia 76ers)
29. Julian Strawther (F – Gonzaga) – Denver Nuggets (through Indiana Pacers)
30. Kobe Brown (F – Missouri) – Los Angeles Clippers (through Milwaukee Bucks)
Source: www.news.com.au
