MILWAUKEE (AP) 鈥� Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash says he wants to see Ben Simmons regain 鈥渢hat joy of playing the game鈥� as the three-time All-Star tries to bounce back after missing all of last season.
Simmons hasn鈥檛 scored more than seven points in any of Brooklyn鈥檚 first four games as the Nets have staggered to a 1-3 start. He had four points, nine assists and five rebounds in 28 minutes on Wednesday night as the
The Nets are counting on Simmons to make a successful return from back surgery as they attempt to contend in the Eastern Conference. last season in a move that sent 10-time All-Star James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers.
鈥淏en and I work every day at this, trying to give him the confidence to go out there and be aggressive and try to get back to at least the feeling of joy on the court,鈥� Nash said before Wednesday's game.
Simmons, said he鈥檚 feeling better with every game. That鈥檚 not apparent from his statistics thus far.
He fouled out of two of Brooklyn鈥檚 first three games. The Nets host the Dallas Mavericks on Thursday in the first of four straight home games.
鈥淚 definitely feel each game I鈥檓 progressing a little bit in terms of my physicality and aggression,鈥� Simmons said after the Bucks game.
Nash said he just wants to see Simmons playing hard, fast and aggressively. The coach said he isn鈥檛 worried if Simmons makes mistakes early on in his comeback, as long as he鈥檚 showing that energy.
Before this season, Simmons hadn鈥檛 played a game since the 76ers鈥� Eastern Conference semifinals loss to the Atlanta Hawks in June 2021. He didn鈥檛 play due to mental health concerns before his trade to Brooklyn, as well as his back issue.
in May.
Simmons鈥� teammates are encouraging him as he works his way back from the long absence.
鈥淗e has the skills to be a great professional,鈥� Nets guard Kyrie Irving said. "He鈥檚 done it in the past, and he hasn鈥檛 played in two years. You guys keep coming in here and asking me like, 鈥橶hat about Ben? What about Ben? He hasn鈥檛 played in two years. Give him a 鈥� chance.鈥�
The Nets are prepared to offer him that chance.
鈥淲e鈥檙e just here to give him positive affirmation while he鈥檚 out there and just let him hoop,鈥� Irving said. 鈥淲hile he鈥檚 hooping and getting back into it, we鈥檙e going to have to really jell as a team in order to learn how to win as a group.鈥�
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Steve Megargee, The Associated Press
