Nets ‘able to go to conflict’ with a wholesome Ben Simmons

It’s the primary week of coaching camp, so it ought to come as no shock that gamers are “in the very best form of my life” and all “have one thing to show.”

In Ben Simmons’ case, although, the previous two seasons have been ugly, so a return to type can be particularly welcome.

And in line with his teammates and head coach Jacque Vaughn, the previous All-Star has regarded like his previous self.

“He appears actually, actually good,’’ Nic Claxton stated Thursday on the Nets’ coaching facility in Brooklyn. “He’s aggressive. He’s feeling good about himself. … It’s a special vitality about him. I’m excited to see what he does this yr. I do know he has rather a lot to show to himself [and] show to everyone else. So I’m able to go to conflict with him.”

It has been a very long time since Simmons has impressed anybody on the courtroom.

After sitting out the primary a part of the 2021 season after which being traded to the Nets in February 2022, Simmons has handled again and left knee accidents which have severely restricted him when he’s even been in a position to get on the courtroom.

For a workforce that doesn’t have a choose in subsequent yr’s draft, the Nets may definitely use an impactful Simmons to make themselves aggressive this yr.

“He’s regarded nice,’’ Spencer Dinwiddie stated. “I feel he’s in form. I feel he’s taking part in onerous, working onerous. In transition, he will get out in passing lanes to get deflections, issues of that nature. He’s actually setting the desk for guys [and] taking part in at a excessive degree.”

Simmons appeared in simply 42 video games final season and posted the worst numbers of his profession (6.9 factors per recreation and 6.3 rebounds per recreation).

Now 27, the No. 1 general choose of the 2016 draft ought to have the ability to make a distinction if accidents haven’t already taken an excessive amount of of a toll.

“Ben, having been the one individual on this roster to make an All-Star workforce, he’s received to play at that degree for us to have an opportunity to be good,’’ Dinwiddie stated. “We don’t have our [draft] picks, so we wish to make the playoffs, a minimum of. We get no profit out of tanking, so we’re gonna want all of that.”

For Vaughn, the bar for Simmons this coaching camp has been low.

Requested what’s stood out about him, Vaughn stated, “I feel, you understand, it’s simply good to have him round his teammates and be part of the workforce and grinding with everybody else.’’

He even pointed to the upcoming street journey to play the Lakers in Las Vegas.

“All of these little issues that he wasn’t in a position to take part in absolutely on a regular basis that make you a teammate,’’ Vaughn stated.

The true check will start when the common season begins on Oct. 25 towards Cleveland.