“Stop assuming he’ll be the same explosive athlete” NBA analyst believes Ben Simmons’ back surgery could be a massive red flag for his career
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Ben Simmons and Tim McMahon
Brooklyn Nets would be raring to go in the 2023 season with Ben Simmons finally playing on the court and Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving staying put at the franchise. They have tried to assemble a heavy arsenal around these 3 superstar players and the Nets’ fans would be excited about the upcoming season. But ESPN analyst Tim McMahon issues some concerns over the health of an Australian star after back surgery. Simmons didn’t play a single second this season, either for the 76ers or for the Nets after they acquired him at the trade deadline. The All-Star player had successful microdiscectomy surgery at Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital in Los Angeles on May 5 and has been on a recovery schedule since then.
Simmons is certainly one of the NBA’s most talked about players and after his infamous hold-out with the 76ers and trade to the Nets, he came into a brighter spotlight. All the drama around 25-years –old star had been a major part of his short career. On “Brian Windhorst and The Hoop Collective,” MacMahon discussed the risks of Simmons after the surgery.
He explained, “A super-athletic player, undergoing back surgery. You can’t just assume he’s going to be the same explosive sort of athlete. What happened to Dwight Howard after he had back surgery? (For) guys whose game is based primarily on just elite, explosive athleticism, back surgery is a massive red flag, on top of a pile of red flags.”
Injuries and surgeries surely take a toll on athletes’ bodies and they could not perform their 100% on the court, which might be a concerning factor for the franchises. While the back issue could affect Simmons dearly, he is a very talented player to overcome with adjustments in his gameplay.
How much is Ben Simmons important for the Brooklyn Nets?
Brooklyn Nets were considered title favorites in the 2022 season and after rough regular season games; they had their star pair playing together in the postseason. But they could play just 4 games in the 2022 playoffs and were swept aside by the Boston Celtics team. One of the reasons for their failure was poor defensive efforts, which former rookie of the year star could be a valuable resource for them.
If we analyze the series against the Celtics, all 4 games were won or lost by the slightest of margins, where 2-3 possessions could change the outcome of the game. Simmons is capable enough to impact more than that and even score some important points in the middle.
Also having a 6-foot-11 point guard is a luxury, not every team has. He is a great on0-ball defender and also his height gives him an advantage in passing too. Importantly at his height, Ben Simmons can seamlessly play any position, except shooting guard. He could be a forward player or even take the center position to accumulate KD and Kyrie at the same time. This would provide the Nets more fearsome team n the floor, and also much flexibility to play around.
As of now, there are strong rumors that the Nets are willing to experiment with Simmons as the man in the middle. Although that has yet to be seen in action, people are ready to see Simmons take on a new role.
The lingering question for many is whether the All-NBA defender is ready for that role. Playing Simmons at the number five position can open up various lineups that could work to the Nets’ advantage. Additionally, his elite court vision could be a huge advantage against other centers. Plus, looking at Brooklyn’s roster and surrounding Simmons with a ton of shooters could be a treat to watch.
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving’s return would certainly be a huge boost for the Nets, but Ben Simmons also plays a very important role in changing the outcome of the game. He could be “that missing piece” for the Brooklyn Nets to get over the hump and finally win a title, provided he stays fit and play for them.
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Kunal Chawda
(600 Articles Published)