Ben Simmons played a competitive game for the first time in 470 days.
It was his debut for the Nets, and of course, it was a matchup against his former team. The Philadelphia 76ers emerged victorious behind an excellent game from Tyrese Maxey, who scored 20 points in just 13 minutes of action.
Simmons finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 steal.
After the game, he said that he was just grateful to be back on the floor. Based on what we saw from Simmons during his first game with Brooklyn, however, there is a lot that we learned about his role and his expected impact on his new team.
1
His injuries didn't hurt his athleticism even a little bit
Simmons didn’t step foot on an NBA court for 15 months, and he had back surgery, which does not always lead to an easy recovery.
If there were any concerns about how he would look after the operation, he quieted those down on his first score of the game. Look at him run the floor then throw down an impressive slam in transition:
Brooklyn is going to be tough to stop in the open court next season, and Simmons should have a lot of fun running the floor with players like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Now that those potential anxieties about his back are alleviated, we can get into some of the more nitty-gritty details about his debut.
2
His versatility is going to be incredible in the pick and roll
Below, you can watch Simmons initiate a high pick and roll at the top of the key with Nic Claxton, then deliver the pass to Kevin Durant for a dime.
It is the type of half-court possession fans can get accustomed to next season:
But that wasn’t the only way that Simmons was used in the pick and roll.
You can also watch the two-man game he had when Kyrie Irving was the ball handler. Here he is as a dive man rolling to the basket after setting a screen:
Simmons doesn’t connect on that attempt, but it’s an encouraging moment.
There were a few other possessions in which Simmons set helpful screens,
3
He is still one of the best passers on the planet
Thus far, it appears Simmons will be running point guard for the Nets. For all of the hate that is often directed his way, there are still things Simmons can routinely accomplish that very few other people would even consider trying.
Simmons is a phenomenal playmaker, and he is going to have some absurd passes to the perimeter with Durant and Irving (as well as Joe Harris, Seth Curry, and others) wide open for 3-pointers.
For all of his limitations as a shooter, Simmons has always created 3-point attempts more often than almost any other player in the league. His absurd passes, like this wild fling that seems impossible, show why:
Since his first season in 2017, per 100 possessions, Simmons has assisted on more 3-pointers (5.1) than anyone in the NBA except for Chris Paul.
But he is also more than capable of making highlight-reel-worthy passes to the rim, too. Look at this no-look dime to Nic Claxton, and you will see just how sweet it can be to be Simmons teammate:
Simmons is always one of the league’s leaders in total passes made, but he is also one of the leaders in jaw-dropping passes effortlessly pulled off as well.
We’re going to see a lot of passes from Simmons on SportsCenter this season.
4
It's good to see him shooting, even if it doesn't go in
Simmons still lacked touch on his free-throw attempts, but with all of the expected jitters of his first game back, that’s not actually too concerning.
One of the most interesting plays of the game was actually when Simmons attempted a turnaround hook shot from just short of the nail during the first quarter of the game against Philadelphia on Monday.
Even though the shot didn’t go in, it was still a very noteworthy attempt.
We know about Simmons’ reluctance to shoot from beyond the arc, but what’s just as interesting is how rarely he even shoots from anywhere outside the rim.
Among the 3,000+ field-goal attempts that Simmons has had since turning pro, only approximately 10% have come from at least 11 feet of the basket, which is where this shot was taken.
No one should expect Simmons to turn into Stephen Curry next season. But adding shots like this into his arsenal more often would do wonders for him next season.
5
His defense is going to unlock a new dimension for Brooklyn
Perhaps no aspect of his game is more exciting than his defense.
Simmons has made First-Team All-Defense in two of the four seasons he has played in the NBA, and he was the steals champion in 2020. It would be hard to question his overall defensive impact.
No longer playing with a dominant big man like Joel Embiid, there will be more opportunities for Simmons to defend the five. It will be an adjustment, but he is more than capable.
But last night, fans were reminded what a joy it is to watch the 6-foot-11 defensive stalwart. He is an absolute menace who can stay attached to his man, seamlessly switching to help double-team the ball-handler and forcing mistakes in the process.
Simmons is going to make life tough for the best player on the other team, which should alleviate some pressure for Durant and Irving to lock in as pure scorers on the offensive side of the floor.
