Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers has prior history with Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons from their time together with the 76ers. Simmons had his best years thus far in the NBA when he was in Philadelphia until that faithful Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 NBA Eastern Conference Semifinals when he passed up a dunk that he still gets criticized for to this day.
“I always have an affection for the guys I coach,” Rivers said after Saturday’s 101-98 win over the Brooklyn Nets. “It never goes away. It doesn’t and I believe he (Simmons) can get back to where he was with us. Especially, now that he’s gonna have the ball in his hands more. I think that’s what we did that kinda freed him up, but it’s just gonna take time. Now, what, it’s been a year and a half? I don’t think it’ll be overnight, but he’s working, and that’s all you can do. I hope the best. Simmons has not done so well with the Nets this season as he is averaging only 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists per game which are far below his career numbers.
“It’s not like we’re enemies or things like that,” Rivers continued. “At the beginning, right away, none of us talked to anybody. That whole thing was awful, but that’s gone now. That’s in the past and we’re human. We move on. That’s a part of life, man. Stuff happens and you just gotta move on from it and still love people and usually that energy is way more better than hate. I can tell you that.” It looks like Rivers has not lost any love for Simmons even after the way that Simmons left Philadelphia by holding out. Rivers believes that Simmons can get back to his All-Star form and Brooklyn is hoping for the same.
Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire contributed to this story.
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