Ben Simmons’ trainer says Nets star will recover from injury: ‘Trust me on this one’ | News, scores, highlights, stats and rumors

One of the great traditions in sports is back: Ben Simmons, guard of the Brooklyn Nets, prepares for the upcoming NBA season in an offseason workout video.

This time, however, it’s different because Simmons has the support of coach Chris Brickley. The veteran technique coach responded to a fan comment on X with “Trust me on this one” when he vouched that the three-time All-Star is better now than he was during his peak season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Brickley was a sought-after shooting coach for some of the best players in basketball. He has worked with LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kevin Love, Paige Bueckers and Azzi Fudd.

There’s no doubt that Brickley has the resume to earn trust, but Simmons is such a difficult player to evaluate for a number of reasons.

The most important factor for Simmons will be staying on the court. He has played in 57 games over the past three seasons and has undergone two back surgeries.

If we can assume that Simmons is truly healthy and can play the majority of the season for the Nets, the next step is to see how he actually implements the coaching he received from Brickley in games.

It’s very easy to be skeptical that this will happen. Videos of Simmons making jumpers have been a staple of virtually every offseason since he entered the NBA. Here’s one from August 2019 that sparked excitement that he would expand his offensive game.

Simmons had a very good 2019-20 season, being named an All-Star and to the All-Defensive First Team, but he made seven three-pointers in 57 games and almost all of his field goals came from restricted areas.

Playing for the Nets allows Simmons to experiment with his game since their expectations are so low. They finished 32-50 last season and traded Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks in July.

If there was ever a season where Simmons could show he can be a capable jump shooter in the NBA, it was the 2024-25 season. He will be a free agent next summer and his long-term prospects in the NBA are uncertain due to his injury problems over the past few years.