Ben Simmons wasnt fully healthy for Nets training camp last year before injury spiral

The Nets have been witnessing something new this training camp — a healthy Ben Simmons.However, it wasn’t initially known to be new until the point guard said Friday that he didn’t feel “100 percent” coming into training camp a year ago.The Nets star was thought to be healthy before suffering a back injury after playing in the first five games of the season.It continued to be an issue, along with running into knee problems, and Simmons went on to miss 67 of the 82 Nets games.From speaking with reporters after practice, it seems Simmons started the season with another herniated disc, and the repeated injury problems of the 2023 season could have been prevented.“I feel physically ready to play at a high level,” Simmons explained about feeling different coming into training camp ahead of the 2024-25 season.

“Last year, I got to the point where I was good enough to get on the court, but I wasn’t 100 percent, which it was the situation — it was it was — but at the end of the day, I’m here now, and this is the situation.I feel great, and I put a lot of time and work in.”“I was playing with another herniated disc, so that was probably a big reason why,” he added about his changed rehab process from last year.

“This is my second surgery in a couple years.Same situation, different area in the back, but I’m cleared now and I feel great and ready to go.”Simmons didn’t admit to feeling any pressure to play currently going into this year, but there seems to have been a rushed process last year to help on the court.“I want to compete and help my teammates win.

Being in positions like that, obviously, you want to do what you can and get what you have, and that’s what I did last year,” he said.“Whether I was healthy or not, I tried to do what I could for the team while I had an opportunity to play.”A former Rookie of the Year, Simmons was playing on a five-year, $177 million deal signed in 2020 with the 76ers when he was acquired ...