There were signs of life in Ben Simmons’ final trial run before one of the NBA’s most-scrutinized figures makes his official return for Brooklyn.
A nice pass, strong drive to the basket, two made floaters and some stiff defense on Giannis Antetokounmpo, Simmons had seven points, eight rebounds and 10 assists and two steals in the Nets’ final pre-season game defeat of Milwaukee.
Yet ahead of Wednesday’s (AEDT) season opener against New Orleans, the post-game attention was on an air-ball caught on camera at a Nets community event.
“It doesn’t f****ing stop,” the maligned Australian told ESPN of the commentary surrounding his shooting frailties.
“Sometimes I’m even sick of it, but then I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m Ben Simmons, you know? It comes with being Ben Simmons right now.’
He missed all of last season following a messy exit from Philadelphia, with a back injury eventually requiring surgery and mental scars equally as impactful.
Simmons said pairing with fellow headline-grabbers Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving – he also enjoys the presence of compatriot Patty Mills – will help him this year.
“You (have) got to have tough skin … they (Durant and Irving) can kind of relate because something’s going on with everybody’s name here.”
Coach Steve Nash saw enough against the Bucks to believe that the three-time NBA All-Star can prove his many doubters wrong.
“He played with a lot more force,” the coach said.
“It’s not easy, not playing for a year and coming back from back surgery.
“He’s got to go through that, play through mistakes. He did that tonight and we are seeing the benefits of it.”
Simmons is one of 11 Australians on NBA rosters this season.
In Phoenix after a rookie season of limited opportunities with San Antonio, Jock Landale has stuffed the stat sheet in pre-season to win over the Suns fanbase and push his case for big minutes off the bench.
“I don’t know if it’s the mohawk or what’s going on with the fan favorite thing,” he said.
“Maybe I’m just a dickhead, I don’t know.”
“I enjoy being who I am. If that’s how it falls, that’s how it falls.”
Josh Green has impressed staff and teammates at Dallas and could work his way into a larger role alongside Luka Doncic, while Mills will again be an important extra piece at the Nets.
Josh Giddey’s pre-season form showed his historic rookie year won’t be an anomaly, the Oklahoma City guard adding a more confident three-point shot to his big bag of tricks.
An ankle injury disrupted 19-year-old Dyson Daniels’ encouraging pre-season with the Pelicans, where his maturity and skills are likely to land him a solid role in his debut season.
Joe Ingles will likely return from a torn ACL in January for the Bucks, the 35-year-old confident he still has something to offer the title contenders.
Matisse Thybulle (Philadelphia) has been asked to step up his offense to match his elite defense while Matthew Dellavedova (Sacramento) will battle for minutes after forcing his way back into the NBA.
Fellow NBL graduates Makur Maker (Washington) and Jack White (Denver) will likely spend most of the season with their club’s G League affiliates.
AUSSIES IN THE NBA:
* Brooklyn Nets: Ben Simmons, Patty Mills
* Philadelphia 76ers: Matisse Thybulle
* Oklahoma City Thunder: Josh Giddey
* Dallas Mavericks: Josh Green
* Milwaukee Bucks: Joe Ingles
* Denver Nuggets: Jack White
* New Orleans Pelicans: Dyson Daniels
* Phoenix Suns: Jock Landale
* Sacramento Kings: Matthew Dellavedova
* Washington Wizards: Magic Maker
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