Richard Jefferson on Nets’ Ben Simmons: ‘we’ve seen it before’
The Brooklyn Nets announced on Tuesday that they have ruled guard Ben Simmons out for the rest of this season because of a nerve impingement in his back, according to multiple reports. While the news isn’t entirely shocking, it is still sad to see someone with so much talent either underperforming, suffering through injuries, or in Simmons’ case, a combination of the two.
Simmons has played just 42 out of a possible 75 games for the Nets this season as he has dealt with a variety of injuries mostly related to his knee and back. In those 42 games, Simmons has averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game while shooting 56.6% from the field. For comparison, his career averages are 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game while shooting 56% from the field.
Simmons has been one of the more polarizing players in recent NBA history. He was once regarded as someone who had the potential to become similar to all-time NBA great LeBron James because of Simmons’ combination of physical profile and skill set. However, after being a three-time All-Star as a Philadelphia 76er, Simmons has been one of the more disappointing stories of players falling from grace. Here’s what former NBA player and current NBA commentator Richard Jefferson had to say about Simmons:
“We’ve seen players with all the talent in the world not make it. We’ve seen players with all the talent in the world decided to just move on and step away from the game. So, when I look at this situation with Ben Simmons, yeah we root for every player. I have not met a player that I don’t root for the best. But, when you ask me about Ben Simmons, I know a lot of guys like that. Because this is what we do. This is what we’ve done. I wasn’t the best player on my AAU team. I wasn’t the best player on my college team. A lot of guys don’t make it out. If this is his story, and this is how it finishes, then I wish him the best. I wish him nothing but love and I wish that he just continues and lives his life.”
