INGLEWOOD, Calif. — On Tuesday, Ben Simmons began a new journey with the Los Angeles Clippers, participating in his first practice with the team after being released by the Brooklyn Nets over the weekend. Simmons, who was the number one overall pick in the 2016 draft, is anticipated to make his on-court debut either Wednesday in a home game against the Memphis Grizzlies or Thursday while playing against the Utah Jazz. He has not competed in a game since February 1.
“I feel great, ready to go,” Simmons shared. “I just want to play basketball at a high level and I feel like that’s going to happen here.” The Clippers, boasting a 29-23 record, currently hold the sixth position in the Western Conference, contrasting sharply with the Nets, who are struggling with a 19-34 record and sit 12th in the Eastern Conference.
“Defensively, it’s a lot different when you’re on the court with a lot of veterans. It will be unique having a lot of guys like that on the court,” Simmons said, expressing optimism about his integration into the team. “It’s not going to take too long to get a feel for each other on the floor.” One of his new teammates is Patty Mills, also from Australia, who recently joined the Clippers. “I’ve known Patty since I was young,” Simmons noted. “Having a familiar face like that around helps but the guys have been great. Everyone has been very welcoming.”
Before moving to the Clippers, Simmons was traded to the Nets from Philadelphia in exchange for James Harden at the 2022 trade deadline. Unfortunately, the three-time All-Star never had the opportunity to play alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving during that season due to a back injury that hampered his attempts to regain fitness after missing the earlier half of the season. The injury woes, primarily linked to lower back nerve damage, also plagued Simmons; he appeared in just half of the 2022-23 season, during which Durant and Irving were both traded, managing only 15 games last year.
In the current season, Simmons participated in 33 of the 52 games with the Nets, starting 24 of those matches, and averaged 6.2 points and 6.9 assists. He was officially waived by the Nets on Saturday after both parties reached an agreement on a contract buyout. This season, he is making $40 million and is on track to become a free agent afterward.
Clippers coach Tyronn Lue views Simmons’s joining as a fresh opportunity for the team, stating, “It’s going to take a little time as far as rotations and how we play guys together, but from a basketball standpoint, I’m kind of excited about it.” Lue also emphasized the expectation for Simmons to take on challenging defensive responsibilities against top opposing players, declaring that, “He’s up for the challenge.”
Simmons appreciates that the Clippers prioritize his role as a point guard, which aligns with his skills. “For me, that’s truly my position,” he remarked. “I see the floor, I want to get my guys easy buckets and control the pace. On the defensive end, I want to be a dog, I want to be able to get stops and put pressure on the ball.”
Following the trade deadline, the Clippers made significant moves by acquiring players such as Bogdan Bogdanovic, Mills, Drew Eubanks, and MarJon Beauchamp. Simmons concluded with optimism, saying, “I think everyone is just going to push each other and be better and expect greatness. That’s my expectation.”
