Inside The Nets

Hornets coach Steve Clifford gives his take on Ben Simmons

Steve Clifford gives an outside opinion on Simmons’ value to a team like the Nets.

Peter Sunjic

© Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets announced that Ben Simmons would miss the rest of the season due to a lower-back nerve impingement. That injury has bothered him for the longest time, and the Nets and Ben’s agents are working on ways to help him recover properly.

The Charlotte Hornets got a close look at the Nets team playing without Simmons and won the game, 110 to 99. Coach Steve Clifford gave his take on how significant a season-ending injury to a star player is to a team.

“When you have a guy like Ben, and he’s playing only so many games, people forget he’s on the roster. You're not gonna be nearly the team you can when you have an All-Star caliber player, making that much of the salary cap, not playing much,” Clifford said in his post-game presser after the Hornets’ win against Brooklyn. 

“That’s the way it is. What happens is when guys are out for the season and don’t play much, it’s easy for fans to look at it and forget about it. You can’t make up for that.”

A retrospective look at the Simmons trade

Whenever Ben faces an injury, the Nets fan base harkens back to what happened with the Simmons trade. It happened because of James Harden’s desire to leave Brooklyn and play in Philadelphia. Nets general manager Sean Marks had no choice but to send Harden to Philly in exchange for Simmons in the deal.

At that point, the Aussie’s value was low due to his meltdown against the Hawks in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals. However, everyone within the Nets organization believed Ben could reach his All-Star form again.

Simmons has only played 57 games since 2022, which is unfortunate for him and the Nets. The Aussie guard wants to play, but his body keeps failing him.

What is next for Ben?

Simmons is determined to return and play for the Nets again. He is entering the final year of his hefty contract, so playing well when he returns will be crucial in extending his NBA career.

If he can sort out his nerve impingement issue, the sky is the limit for Ben. The Nets already have a good foundation with Cameron Thomas and Mikal Bridges. Simmons must improve his health because if he can’t, he won’t be in Brooklyn if he keeps having trouble with injuries, considering the Nets want to keep winning with those present all the time.

Brooklyn pulls off the upset by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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