Ben Simmons admitted Tuesday he isn’t sure when he’ll be ready to play for his new team, however he hopes to be on the court against his former club.
Simmons made his first public comments during his introductory news conference with the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday. The Nets acquired Simmons, fellow guard Seth Curry, center Andre Drummond and a pair of first-round picks from the Philadelphia 76ers on Thursday for James Harden and Paul Millsap.
“I’m looking forward to getting back on the floor and building something great here,” said Simmons, 25, who didn’t play all season for the 76ers.
Simmons said he is “definitely starting to ramp it up” in terms of a potential return to the court. Although he is uncertain when that may be, Simmons said he hopes to be available to play on March 10 when the 76ers host the Nets.
Simmons said Tuesday that “it was a personal thing with me” in regard to leaving Philadelphia.
“It just got to a place where I don’t think it was good for me mentally,” he said.
The three-time All-Star asked to be traded from the City of Brotherly Love. The Simmons camp reportedly cited those mental health issues and an inability to mesh on the court with star Joel Embiid as reasons for wanting to leave.
When asked if he had spoken to Embiid after the trade, Simmons was succinct: “No I did not.”
Simmons, 25, averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 275 career games, all starts with the 76ers. He was the No. 1 overall draft pick by the Sixers out of LSU in 2016.
–Field Level Media