The Nets were given their perfect glimpse up to now of Ben Simmons’s attainable on Wednesday night time all through the crew’s preseason sport towards the Bucks. The former No. 1 pick out performed an efficient 28 mins, scoring seven issues on 3-of-5 taking pictures with 8 rebounds and 10 assists.
Before the day trip, Simmons spoke out in regards to the remedy he receives on social media, immediately mentioning the mocking he gained for a clip of him nonchalantly airballing a shot all through a convention open to lovers at Brooklyn Bridge Park this week.
“It finds me all the time,” Simmons informed ESPN’s Nick Friedell. “And it doesn’t f—— stop. Sometimes I’m even sick of it, but then I’m like, ‘OK, I’m Ben Simmons, you know? It comes with being Ben Simmons right now.’
“Even the other day there was a clip of me airballing a shot at the park. Meanwhile, like 10 guys airballed multiple shots. So it’s like people will find one clip and try to make it that everything—like Ben can’t do [this or that]. Like come on man, you think I’m just airballing every shot? It’s not true. But it comes with it, and you got to have tough skin and I realize that, but nah, I can’t take everything personally. It’s social media.”
Even with that frustration, Simmons is aware of the damaging consideration stems from expectancies others have for him. The 26-year-old, three-time All-Star says teaming up with two different superstars—and divisive on-line figures in their very own proper—in Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving has helped him take care of the problems as smartly.
“Because people know what I can do, what I’m capable of,” Simmons mentioned. “I believe that’s what it is. Like if I was somebody that wasn’t capable of doing certain things, I don’t think people would be on my ass as much. And I don’t mind it because it kind of motivates me in a way. Obviously, sometimes it’s a lot for anybody to deal with that, but I look at it a little bit like a respect thing, in a way.
“Because if that wasn’t the case then I wouldn’t have … there would be no upside to me doing something well. If I come out and play a great game then you can’t say anything, you know? But it’s a part of it. That’s why it’s kind of cool being on a team with these two guys [Durant and Irving] because they’ve been through different things in their careers, where they can kind of relate, because their names always— something’s going on with everybody’s name here. I take it for what it is.”
Even with the airball clip hounding him, Simmons is also popping out of his shell just a little as he prepares for his common season Nets debut, after lacking the stability of the season due to damage after his industry from the 76ers closing season. Coach Steve Nash mentioned he concept Simmons appeared “more aggressive … more comfortable, more confident” towards the Bucks, and was once prepared to take extra dangers at the courtroom, one thing that was once missing against the top of his time in Philadelphia.
“So I was proud of him,” Nash mentioned. “I know it’s not that easy when you’ve been out that long.”
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