Ben Simmons has had his fair share of health struggles over the last few years.
The 28-year-old has played in just 57 games over the last three seasons with the Brooklyn Nets, and a pair of back surgeries have limited his ability to play. Last season, Simmons played in just 15 games, averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists.
He is heading into the final year of his five-year, $177-million max contract with the Philadelphia 76ers, which he signed in 2020.
In an interview with Brian Lewis of the New York Post, Simmons said he’s taken note of people suggesting he hasn’t lived up to his end of the bargain with his contract because of how little he’s played, especially since being traded to the Nets.
“People make comments saying I’m robbing. No. When I got that contract, I was playing at a super high level. Unfortunately, I had injuries,” Simmons told Lewis.
“People make comments saying I’m robbing. No. When I got that contract, I was playing at a super high level. Unfortunately, I had injuries,” Simmons explained. “But for somebody to say that, it’s disrespectful. (But) people can say what they want to say. They’ve got to live with it. At the end of the day, it all catches up with you.”
The three-time All-Star was acquired by the Nets in February 2022 in the trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. At the time, he had requested a trade out of Philadelphia, citing mental issues and a back injury, which he felt the team did not support him through.
Heading into this season, the Nets are hopeful to see Simmons get back to being the player he can be.
“A healthy Ben Simmons is a very, very, very, very good basketball player,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez told reporters. A three-time All-Star and that’s what we got right now. We have a healthy Ben that has been working really hard the whole summer.”