A rejuvenated Ben Simmons has declared basketball is his art and he is ready to dominate and prove to the world how much he missed the sport in a year away from the game.
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he → declare → game
But the relationship soured and when his five-year, $250 million deal expired after the 2024-25 season, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets – then waived.
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he → sour → Nets
He spent his last season with the Los Angeles Clippers, and then turned his attention to professional sport fishing.
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He → spend → fishing
Simmons, 30, who has struggled with physical and mental health issues throughout his career, is back and ready to make a splash in his return to the NBA.
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who → struggle → NBA
He has worked hard on shedding a back issue which had long plagued his game and, in some ways, took the pure joy away from playing.
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which → work → playing
“I think that was more so just my body.
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that → think → ?
It wasn’t about if I wanted to play.
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I → want → ?
All these people talk about, I don’t love the game.
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I → talk → game
That’s bullshit – I love this game,” the Australian guard said.
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guard → ’ → game
“If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have taken that year to focus on myself and get back to where I’m at.”
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I → do → where
Former NBA player Patrick Beverley recently claimed Simmons quit when things got hard, and questioned his respect and love for the game.
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things → claim → game
“What do I love about the game?
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I → love → game
It’s my art,” Simmons said.
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Simmons → ’ → ?
“You know, I get to come out here and be creative and play hard and compete against, you know, a numerous amount of talented guys.
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you → know → guys
So for me, it’s just, it’s in my blood.
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it → ’ → blood
I’ve been doing it since I was a baby.”
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I → do → it
Simmons impressed Australian Boomers coaches and players at an unofficial squad camp in Melbourne last month, sources close to the pass-first playmaker confirming to this masthead he is keen to represent his country at the FIBA World Cup in Qatar next year.
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he → impress → Qatar
Fellow Australian Josh Giddey, the star Chicago Bulls’ playmaker, said there was no reason why Simmons could not again be a force.
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Simmons → say → ?
“It was awesome to see him back fit and firing in Melbourne, and I think it was awesome for him to be amongst that national team program,” Giddey told this masthead ahead of the Bulls’ media day.
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Giddey → see → day
“He knows how much, you know, we want him to be a part of it, and I think it’s an awesome place for him to rejuvenate his career and get back to where he belongs in the NBA.
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he → know → NBA
“He looks good.
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He → look → ?
He looks really healthy and fit.
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He → look → ?
And, yeah, I’m excited to watch him this year and see how he goes in Sacramento.
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he → ’m → Sacramento
Simmons averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds and 7.2 assists per game through his career, but outside shooting was an issue.
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shooting → average → career
“I’m right where I need to be.
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I → ’m → ?
I took a lot of time to focus on my body over the season.
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I → take → season
I think it was the best thing I’ve done and decision I’ve made for my career,” Simmons, on a one-year, $3.5 million contract, said.
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Simmons → think → contract
“I’m looking forward to getting going.
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I → look → ?
I feel great and I’m ready to go.
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I → feel → ?
“I miss playing the game a lot.
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I → miss → game
But when you’re not physically right, it’s hard to want to be out there and do what you love.
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you → ’re → what
“So the fact that I’m healthy, and I’m able to compete every day and play every day, I love it.”
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I → ’m → it
It shapes as a tough season for an undermanned Kings’ unit in a loaded western conference.
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It → shape → conference
But Simmons has a goal: “Every time I step on the floor, to dominate,” he said.
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he → have → floor
News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday.
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News → send → sport
The Aporia
