Ben Simmons is finally showing signs of life as he battles to save his NBA career.
The 28-year-old had one of his best games in years on Thursday, but two trolling acts he performed during a win over Phoenix are generating just as many headlines.
Average of 9 LIVE Regular Season games per week plus the best of the NBA Playoffs, including every game of the NBA Conference Finals & NBA Finals LIVE on ESPN, available via Kayo. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer.
Simmons, who is in the final year of a max five-year, US$177.2 million ($273m) contract, is under pressure to prove he still has value in the world’s most competitive basketball league.
It’s been a tough road for the Australian, a three-time All-Star who has battled form and fitness issues for the last three years in a dramatic fall from grace.
Through 14 games this season, he is averaging a career-low 5.9 points per game to go with 6.2 boards and 6.6 assists.
His best numbers came in just his second season in 2018-19, when he averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 boards and 7.7 assists, but on Thursday he played a key role in the road match-up with the Suns.
Simmons finished with 14 points on 7-of-8 shooting, nine boards and eight assists in the 127-117 victory that improved Brooklyn to 9-10 for the season.
It was the Victorian’s highest points production since he scored 20 against Indiana way back on November 26, 2022.
Once a constant triple-double threat, with 36 in his career in the regular season and playoffs, it was Simmons’ best stat line since his last triple-double of 10 points, 10 boards and 11 assists against the Spurs in January 2023.
Brooklyn’s first-year coach Jordi Fernandez raved about Simmons’ output, stating his early physicality was a key to the victory, their third straight on an impressive road trip that featured wins over Sacramento and Golden State.
“I think he set the tone with his first foul,” Fernandez said.
“I think it was an (isolation) play for KD (Kevin Durant) and he was physical and he pushed him and I think that set the tone for everybody else.
“He finished with almost a triple-double, 14, nine and eight, which is impressive, with only two turnovers.
“The numbers are very good, but his physicality defensively, I was very, very impressed and that helped everybody else.”
NBA Wrap: Thunder remain ‘Best in West’ | 01:47
As always with Simmons, however, the focus wasn’t solely on his ability with a basketball.
Two other moments involving the Aussie during the game have erupted on social media, as you can see in the video player above.
The first game came in the second quarter when Simmons hit a running lay-up and then pulled out the “too small” gesture towards his opponent, Suns rookie Ryan Dunn.
The next was in the third quarter when Phoenix superstar Bradley Beal blew an open lay-up, with Simmons grabbing the board and making the “smoked it” gesture common when players miss easy shots.
The irony in the gesture, which was not missed on social media, is Simmons has repeatedly been guilty of a similar mistake.
The decision to pass rather than take an open shot in a playoff game against Atlanta in 2021 is credited with being the starting point of his downfall.
Simmons also blew a wide open lay-up just last Saturday against his former team in another viral moment.
Simmons’ name was soon trending on X, with some keen to point out his good game, but most slamming him for the on-court gestures.
Reporter Daman Rangoola tweeted: “I pray one day to have the level of audacity it takes for Ben Simmons to mock somebody missing a layup.”
Basketball account CourtsideHeat wrote: “Ben Simmons is the LAST player that should trash players for a missed layup.”
X user David Reed quipped: “I mean he does know the feeling.”
Basketball fan Adrian Cantu added: “Lmfao! A layup cost him his career. Crazy he’s making fun of Beal.”
Simmons has been beset with back issues during his time in Brooklyn, playing just 42 and then 15 out of a possible 82 games in his first two seasons with the Nets.
He still sits out either the first or second game of back-to-back fixtures, but said after the Phoenix game he’s starting to find his groove again.
Simmons also gave a rare insight into what’s driving him in the seventh season of his career.
“I think I’m just getting more comfortable,” he told reporters.
“I’ve been away from the game for a while, in terms of being healthy, and it takes time to get back to where I want to be.
“I want nothing more in the world than to be where I was at a few years ago.
“But it takes time, I just have to keep working and trusting myself.”
If Simmons can get back to anywhere near he once was, the eternal question, he can make all the gestures he wants and won’t face the same level of backlash.
Discussion about this post