Nets' Kyrie Irving: 'Anything is possible' for Ben Simmons
Nets guard Ben Simmons answers questions from reporters during practice at the HSS Training Center in Brooklyn on Wednesday. Credit: Noah K. Murray
Now that Ben Simmons is in a good place, Kyrie Irving believes “anything is possible” for his new Nets teammate.
Simmons, whom the Nets acquired in a trade with Philadelphia last February, hasn’t played a game since the 2020-21 season as he dealt with mental health issues with the Sixers and then back problems when he got to the Nets.
Irving, who has been outspoken about his own mental health challenges in the past, is confident that Simmons is going to thrive in the supportive environment that the Nets have built for him.
“It means everything,” Irving said after practice Thursday of the importance of players being in a good mental and physical place. “It means they come in with a peace of mind and they enjoy the game of basketball…..Building team camaraderie takes that ability to go through some uncomfortable moments and you’ve got to be balanced mentally, spiritually, emotionally, to be able to handle things like that.
“I definitely have first-hand experiences. I don’t want to make mental health a trend, but in actuality it’s one of the most important things you need out here to be great in anything you do. We are all supportive. We all go through our own things. But we can understand and meet him where he’s at and have him enjoy the game rather than make it feel like it’s something he’s forced to come through and all.”
Simmons filed a grievance against the Sixers this past August in order to recoup a portion of the $20 million they withheld from him for not playing last season. Simmons cited mental health issues for his absence and the two parties came to a settlement for an undisclosed sum in August.
Simmons received his full salary for the time he spent with the Nets after the Feb. 10 trade. The Nets have also gone out of their way to make Simmons feel comfortable on his new team. In fact, it may have played a role in their re-signing guard Patty Mills, a fellow Australian, to a two-year deal in July.
The Nets veteran guard has known Simmons’ family since he was a kid and has watched the three-time NBA All-Star grow up on and off the hardwood. Mills likes what he sees from Simmons in training camp.
“I do know where his mindset is right now. He’s in a really good place,” Mills said. “He’s excited to be back on the floor and making an impact again.”
Notes & quotes: Kevin Durant turned 34 Thursday and the Nets celebrated by rolling out two cakes at the end of the practice and forcing rookie Alondes Williams to lead the group in singing happy birthday. “ 'ManMan' sang to him. It was awful,” Nets coach Steve Nash said. "Our guy is a year older. Kudos to him for still playing at an incredibly high, historic level at 34.”….Irving, who grew up in New Jersey, is a lifelong Yankees fan and is rooting for Aaron Judge to surpass Roger Maris’ American League record of 61 home runs beginning Friday. “This guy is special,” Irving said. “It’s not too often that you get to see (history) close up and when you do you want to appreciate it.”
Barbara Barker is an award-winning columnist and features writer in the sports department at Newsday. She has covered sports in New York for more than 20 years.
