[Jane] Before he attempts another comeback, (Ben) Simmons said he is training in Los Angeles with the goal of becoming “bulletproof” to avoid further setbacks. He also said his shot finally feels good and that he can now take a simple hook shot…

These days, Ben Simmons wakes up with a newfound appreciation for simply being able to stand up straight.

It has been years since the 29-year-old former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick and three-time All-Star has played at a level commensurate with his early accolades, and there’s no shortage of explanations for the downward trend in Simmons’ career. Is his poor outside shooting the root of all the problems? Did he somehow lose his confidence? Could it all be fixed by shooting with his right hand?

Those theories are all debatable, but according to Simmons persistent back injuries halted his development. In an interview with The Athletic, Simmons described his ailing back as “one of those things where you’re dealing with it every day, sitting down, going to sleep, flying on planes.”

“People don’t understand that,” he said.

Over his nine years in the league, Simmons has missed 273 games. Over the last four seasons, he’s been available to play in just one-third of his teams’ games. In 2024-25, he played 51 total games for the Brooklyn Nets and LA Clippers, averaging 5 points and 22 minutes per game. Throughout the year, Simmons said he often felt only “20 or 30 percent” healthy. At times, he said he could barely stand up straight on the mornings before games.

Tired of playing hurt, Simmons said he decided against signing with another NBA team in the offseason, opting instead for an extended rehab effort meant to restore his health in time to return to the league either later this season or before the 2026-27 campaign.

“I’m about to be 30 years old, and I need to make the best decision for Ben Simmons,” he said. “It’s not fun going out there, not being able to move, not be able to jump, or, you know, take hits. There’s no fun in that. Sometimes you got to make a decision with how you feel and what’s best for yourself. And that’s what I’ve done, and it’s not for everybody to really understand, because they’re not in my shoes.”

Before he attempts another comeback, Simmons said he is training in Los Angeles with the goal of becoming “bulletproof” to avoid further setbacks. He also said his shot finally feels good and that he can now take a simple hook shot without any discomfort.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6923182/2025/12/29/ben-simmons-nba-return-fishing-team/

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