Nets star Ben Simmons is eager to make his return to the hardwood when the NBA season tips off in October.
The 27-year-old was limited to 42 games last year before his season came to an end when the Nets shut him down due to an impinged nerve in his back. Prior to the 2022–23 campaign, Simmons missed the entire ’21–22 season after undergoing surgery on a herniated disk in his back, after missing the start of the season with the 76ers as he sat out citing mental health concerns. He was traded to Brooklyn that February.
However, between the injuries and other obstacles over the past couple seasons, the No. 1 pick in the ’16 NBA draft told ESPN’s Marc Spears that his goal is to return to the court and “dominate” the way he did when he became three-time NBA All-Star, prior to the injuries.
“For me to come back and dominate people will be great,” Simmons told Spears in an Andscape Q&A. “I don’t intend to come back the same player I was last [season], because that’s not even close to where I am. I get excited because I’m like, ‘Damn, I would [expletive] on the player I was last year.’ But I know where I was at last year, so it’s easy to say that. But it’s just fun to go and do the thing that you love when you’re out there. … I don’t really ask for too much.”
In his pursuit to “dominate” in his return, Simmons said he has been working out five days a week for nearly five hours each day. In doing so, he feels that the process has provided him with a whole new outlook on discipline and taking care of his body.
“… I feel like this is the most working and the most disciplined I’ve been out of every summer I’ve had,” Simmons said. “Way stronger. The strongest I’ve been physically, in terms of like moving weight. This is the strongest my core has ever been. … Knee loading is another thing I do strengthening my legs. And then it helps with my back, too. Training my back and there’s just different exercises.
“… I don’t think people realize how bad it was in terms of physically how I was feeling and what I was able to do on the floor. Being able to sit down now and not have to lean or slouch one way, it’s kind of crazy for me. But I feel I’m at 100% now.”
Simmons latest comments come after Nets general manager Sean Marks told reporters in July that he was hopeful that the ’20 All-NBA selection could return to his All-Star form in the future.
