INGLEWOOD — There was an Instagram photo of his bags packed at the airport. Another picture showed Ben Simmons checking into the Intuit Dome practice facility, and still another of the newly acquired wing standing in the locker room, his name lit up above a locker.
Excited to be here?
“Very excited to get started and get on the court,” Simmons said Tuesday after his first practice with the Clippers.
After being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets, where he spent over three seasons, Simmons opted to sign with the Clippers instead of the Cleveland Cavaliers. He cited the welcoming atmosphere around the Clippers’ organization as a deciding factor in where he wanted to further his career.
“I felt wanted and that’s something you want to feel when you go to work and you want to compete at a high level and obviously these guys have been competing at a high level,” he said. “Coaching staff is great, the medical staff has been great, the front office. Everyone all-around has been great so far. So, for me it’s a welcoming experience and that’s what I want, to compete and help this team win.”
Simmons, 28, has not played more than 50 games in any season since the 2020-21 campaign, and he played just 90 games for the Nets because of an ongoing battle with various injuries. He had back surgery, got his left knee drained and last season underwent a microscopic partial discectomy to alleviate a nerve impingement – all before his 28th birthday.
Still, he has shown flashes of the kind of all-court talent that made him a three-time All-Star and an attractive pickup for the Clippers. Simmons, 6-foot-10 and 240 pounds, was averaging 6.2 points, 5.6 rebounds and 6.9 assists for the Nets.
He said he is 100% healthy but not yet cleared to play back-to-back games. Simmons could make his Clippers’ debut on Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies after meeting with the medical staff.
Coach Tyronn Lue called Simmons unique in the fact he can play the point, shoot the ball, play defense and protect the rim when the Clippers go small. And that’s just for starters.
“The biggest thing, he can push the pace when he rebounds the basketball. He’s an unbelievable passer,” Lue said. “You can put him at the elbows, you can use him in transition and then when he’s playing with the first unit when (Ivica) Zubac out, if he’s playing the five, I would say more (he is) the dunker.”
Simmons said he sees his role as a defender and someone who can push the pace. He said the Clippers see him as a point guard first, someone who can get the ball in the hands of his teammates.
“That was the first thing they said to me. We see you as a point guard and for me truly that’s my position,” Simmons said. “I see the floor, I want to get my guys going, get them easy buckets, control the pace, and then on the defensive end, I want to be a dog. I want to be able to get stops and put that pressure on the ball.”
Simmons is using this opportunity as a fresh start, a chance to put his injuries and bad press behind.
As the No. 1 overall draft pick in 2016, Simmons faced scrutiny over his attitude and character from NBA analysts. His play, however, overshadowed any negative talk as he earned 2018 Rookie of the Year honors as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers (after sitting out his first year with a foot injury).
Simmons earned All-Star nods for the next three seasons and was named to the 2020 NBA All-Defensive team.
Trouble began the following season when Simmons expressed his dissatisfaction with remarks made by then-Coach Doc Rivers before the 2021 season and indicated his desire to leave the Sixers, requesting a trade. He sat out training camp and continued to show disruptive behavior, earning him multiple fines.
Simmons eventually got his wish and on Feb. 10, 2022, was traded to the Nets, in exchange for Harden and Paul Millsap. Back issues hampered his playing time with the Nets.
“I’m a competitor. I just want to compete,” Simmons said. “I don’t know all the bull—- that is said online. That doesn’t come from me. I want to compete and I’m here to do that and to play alongside some of these great players is going to be great.
“I think everyone’s just going to push each other to be better and expect greatness. So that’s my expectation.”