Ben Simmons, the Brooklyn Nets’ enigmatic star, is back in the spotlight, but will this season be different, or is Ben Simmons fooling us once again? Simmons is back in the gym, gearing up for the upcoming NBA season, but this time, he has veteran trainer Chris Brickley in his corner. And Brickley isn’t holding back. Responding to a fan on X (formerly Twitter), he confidently declared, “Trust me on this one,” vouching for Simmons being better now than during his prime with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Is Ben Simmons Fooling Us Again? Trainer Vows ‘He’s Better Than Ever’
Brickley is no ordinary coach. His résumé reads like a basketball hall of fame ballot—LeBron James, Kevin Durant, and even rising stars like Paige Bueckers have sought his expertise. Yet, with Simmons, Brickley is putting his reputation on the line. “Ben is healthy, moving well, and better than his All-Star seasons,” Brickley added, insisting that he wouldn’t endorse a player unless they had proven their worth.
But here’s where skepticism creeps in. Simmons’ history is as complicated as his shooting form. Over the past three years, he’s played a meager 57 games, twice undergoing back surgery. Every season, we get hyped watching offseason clips of Simmons draining jump shots. But when it comes to the real games? His offensive arsenal shrinks, and he reverts to his old ways—hardly any jump shots, all action near the rim.
Remember the excitement in 2019? There were videos of Simmons confidently hitting three-pointers, leaving fans drooling over the possibility of a more versatile Simmons. Fast forward to the season, and while he was named an All-Star and made the All-Defensive first team, his offensive game was as limited as ever. Seven three-point attempts in 57 games—barely a ripple.
This time, Brooklyn might be the perfect place for Simmons to experiment, given the Nets’ modest expectations. Coming off a 32-50 season and parting ways with Mikal Bridges, the Nets aren’t exactly poised for a title run. So why not take a few more risks? With Simmons hitting free agency next summer, this could be his last shot at proving he’s still a major player in the NBA.
But will he finally show up, or is this just another offseason mirage? The stakes are high, and as much as his fans want to believe, there’s a lingering question: can we really trust the hype this time?
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