Nets' Ben Simmons has impressed four days into camp
Point guard Ben Simmons said he played in last year’s season opener “without being healthy, without being 100%.” Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Ben Simmons hasn’t played in a game since Feb. 26. How he looks is something people will watch for Tuesday in the Nets’ preseason opener against the Clippers in San Diego.
But what’s been revealing so far in training camp is the extent of how Simmons struggled through recurring back pain last season. On Friday, he said he was playing through a herniated disc, the second he’s had in three seasons.
“Last year, I got to the point where I was good enough to get on the court, but I wasn’t 100%,” said Simmons, who had season-ending surgery in March after dealing with a pinched nerve that limited him to 15 games last season. “Which, it was the situation, it was what it was, but at the end of the day, I’m here now and this is the situation. I feel great and I put a lot of time and work in.”
An earlier herniated disc led to Simmons’s first back surgery in May 2022. In March, the Nets announced Simmons had a second surgery to help deal with a pinched nerve that limited his season.
It explained why Simmons told the YES Network on Media Day this week that he played in last year’s season opener "without being healthy, without being 100%”. Naturally, it’ll lead to more skepticism on what fans can expect from him.
A healthy Simmons can help the Nets be more competitive in the first year of a rebuild. It’ll also determine what value he has as a free agent next summer after making $40.3 million this season.
At the same time, Simmons has played just 57 games since joining the Nets in February 2022. It's reasonable to temper any expectations and let time be the judge how he looks and holds up.
For now, Simmons is saying the right things and his body has cooperated. He’s also impressed his new teammates four days into camp.
“He's so versatile, man,” Ziaire Williams said. “I'm a cutter, so nothing a cutter loves more than a point guard who could pass the ball right? So he's always just two three steps ahead, making the right play, pushing in transition.”
The Nets can only hope that the Simmons they see now is what they’ll see more of this season. But Tuesday is the first step to see how Simmons regains his form.
“A lot of prep went into it,” he said. “All summer, just rehabbing and getting right. Now I’m back on the court. So just getting better every day and trying to push everybody.”
Claxton out for preseason opener
Nic Claxton will miss the Nets’ preseason opener with hamstring soreness, coach Jordi Fernandez said. Claxton, who re-signed with the team this summer on a four-year contract, didn’t participate in the team’s scrimmage on Thursday.
Fernandez didn’t say how long Claxton would be out or when he suffered the injury. However, the team wasn’t concerned and holding him out is just precautionary.
“We're just more aiming (for) the first game of the season and doing what we believe is best just for him to be ready there,” Fernandez said.
Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe are also being assessed for hamstring issues. Fernandez said their status will be determined closer to Tuesday.
It’ll mean the Nets get a longer look at Noah Clowney. The second-year center drew praise for his improved shooting this summer and Fernandez has praised his versatility both on defense and playing on the perimeter.
The Nets are already without Bojan Bogdanovic, who’s recovering from offseason foot surgery. At Media Day on Monday, Bogdanovic said he’s only doing on-court work by himself and hasn’t been cleared for five-on-five work.
Bogdanovic also had wrist surgery this offseason. He said his wrist feels fine but his foot is still taking time to heal.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
