Ben Simmons Works Out With Former Philadelphia 76ers Teammate
![Oct 18, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) reacts to a call against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports Oct 18, 2023; Miami, Florida, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) reacts to a call against the Miami Heat during the second half at Kaseya Center. Mandatory Credit: Rich Storry-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_7738,h_4352,x_0,y_0/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/fastbreak/01j5paj89qt4q9wvj6yw.jpg)
Ben Simmons was once among the most exciting young stars in the NBA.
However, he had a poor ending to his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers and has only been able to appear in 57 games since the 2020-21 season.
The current Brooklyn Nets star made a post to his Instagram story (on Monday) from a recent workout.
In one of the photos, he was with his former teammate Matisse Thybulle (h/t NBACentral, NetsKingdom).
Ben Simmons and Matisse Thybulle in the lab 🔥
— NBACentral (@TheDunkCentral) August 19, 2024
(h/t @NetsKingdomAJ ) pic.twitter.com/ykSZCMk9br
Thybulle and Simmons spent two seasons together with the 76ers.
The 76ers made the NBA playoffs in both seasons (and Simmons also made two All-Star Games in that span).
At one point, both players were seen as significant franchise cornerstones, but surprisingly, neither ended up fitting into their long-term plans.
Simmons is coming off his second season playing for the Nets.
He averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists per contest while shooting 58.1% from the field in 15 games.
The three-time NBA All-Star is only 28, so there is still a chance he could return to being a starting-caliber player (if he can remain healthy).
Ben Simmons working out with Matisse Thybulle. https://t.co/OAK65mz0Wt pic.twitter.com/EUlTUB1J3a
— NetsKingdom 👑🗽 (@NetsKingdomAJ) August 19, 2024
On the other hand, Thybulle got traded to the Portland Trail Blazers during the middle of the 2022-23 season.
He is coming off a year where he averaged 5.4 points, 2.1 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.7 steals per contest while shooting 39.7% from the field and 34.6% from the three-point range in 65 games.
While Thybulle has been unable to develop an offensive game, he is a reliable defender.