Former NBA star Ben Simmons is back after he signed a one-year deal with the Sacramento Kings. On Tuesday, the free-agency acquisition was formally announced. Last season, Simmons did not play in the league and spent most of the time recovering from his nagging back issues.
Early in the offseason, the three-time All-Star made headlines when it was revealed that he intended to return to the NBA. Simmons did a private workout in Miami where Kings general manager Scott Perry was present. After that, he worked out in front of coach Doug Christie and the team’s front office in Sacramento.
Simmons’ godfather and former LSU coach David Patrick said the 6-foot-9 forward is working on his outside stroke. The Australian star has always been criticized for not being a reliable 3-point shooter. Patrick confirmed on Monday that the former No. 1 pick is attempting shots on live plays.
“He comes to camp, he’s shooting threes in live play, doesn’t care whether they make or miss… That swagger, that confidence that he once had, is back,” Patrick said on the Matt & Kayla Show on Sactown Sports 1140.
However, fans are not convinced Simmons is shooting consistently from deep and have trolled him online.
“Confidently shooting bricks is nasty work,” a fan said.
“Did he ever exude confidence or swagger? 🤣🤣🤣” another fan commented.
“he never had that confidence,” one fan said.
More fans trolled the former NBA star.
“We’ve seen this movie before,” someone commented.
“Ben Simmons working on his 3-ball gimmick is back for the 8th straight year lmao,” a comment read.
“N***a 6 years too late,” one fan commented.
Antonio Daniels Believes Signing Ben Simmons is a Good Gamble for the Kings
Ben Simmons arrives in Sacramento as a veteran player who could potentially help the Kings’ youth. Some believe it’s a good offseason acquisition even though he hasn’t played in more than a year. Antonio Daniels, a former champion, believes that signing Simmons was a wise risk for the team.
“You don’t have to be the No. 1 overall pick. You don’t have to do that, just see what you have. Just see what you have physically, see what you have mentally,” Daniels said.
Ben Simmons is not under any obligation to lead the team, according to Daniels. He can now play his game with confidence and little pressure because he is no longer the center of attention.
Read More:
Edited by Reign Amurao
You must be logged in to post a comment Login