Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons has been out since February 22 due to a back injury he suffered against the Milwaukee Bucks and a lot of questions have been surrounding that back injury. After all, he is one of the top players in the league and if he is healthy, then the Sixers are a much better basketball team.
Coach Brett Brown said on Wednesday that the dynamic All-Star guard is good to go and Simmons echoed his coach’s sentiments.
“I’m feeling better than I was when I started the season,” he said via Zoom on Thursday. “I’ve been working since I had the injury until now to be prepared for whatever happens wherever we go. So, I’m feeling great, I’ve been rehabbing this whole time, and I’ve been feeling ready and I’m very comfortable.”
Due to the injury being as late in the season as it was and the severity of the injury, Simmons admits that he might not have been ready for the playoffs if they happened on its normal timetable. So this time away was a blessing in disguise for him.
“Oh I needed it,” he said. “I was at a point where I was feeling comfortable getting back out on the floor, but it’s also a different type of pace so it’s hard to judge. I still felt really good. I felt like I was ready, but this extra window of time is a blessing and a curse with everything going on, but I’m using it to my full advantage to get back out there so I’m ready to go.”
In terms of the season resumption in the middle of a global pandemic, Simmons says that he trusts the NBA’s plan and he also trusts the league’s veteran players. The league is led by big-name players such as LeBron James, Chris Paul, and others and Simmons will follow their example.
“I trust in the NBA and those older vets,” Simmons explained. “Like Bron and like CP3 who are ready to go down there. Also, this is our job. Personally, I don’t have any problems with people who want to sit out, everybody’s personal stuff is different, so I can’t really speak on anybody else, but personally, for me, I want to get out there and play. I feel like it’s my responsibility to go down there and represent Philadelphia in the highest way I can.”
Obviously, Simmons has his concerns like everybody else. He’s human at the end of the day and everybody has their own feelings, but if he is ready to go and wants to play, then so be it.
“I don’t think anybody wants to get sick in general,” he finished with. “You’ve got to do what you can to not get sick. Take care of what you can take care of, be safe, cautious, and do everything the right way.”
The Sixers will head to Orlando on July 9 and they will then begin play on August 1 against the Indiana Pacers. [lawrence-related id=33893,33881,33871]