The Ben Simmons-James Harden blockbuster sent shockwaves through the NBA. We still haven't had a chance to process it all yet, but with newcomers Seth Curry and Andre Drummond helping the Brooklyn Nets finally snap an 11 game losing streak on Monday, that makes it a little more palatable for fans. But Ben Simmons is in town, and he was ready to open up about his mental health struggles.
People understandably have lots of questions for him about this subject. Is mental health the main reason he wanted to leave Philadelphia? What exactly went wrong there? Would he confirm or deny the bevy of rumors about his motivations for demanding a trade or not playing this season? Why should Nets fans feel things will be better for him in that regard just 'cause he has a new team and city?
Simmons has always been more of the strong, silent type with media. Former teammate JJ Redick once said he sits behind a glass wall, keeping people out to a degree. But he addressed a lot on Tuesday. Flanked by his new GM Sean Marks, and Head coach Steve Nash, Simmons opened up on one of the most wild stalemate's in NBA history. And an issue that has been almost as controversial as Kyrie Irving's vaccination issue. It's just more likely to pop up on ESPN than CNN.
The 2016 first overall pick hasn't spoken publicly since June 21st of last year, following the Game 7 Sixers' home loss to Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks. That changed today.
“I don't have a date yet,” Ben Simmons began by talking about a possible return. “But I'm working towards getting back on the floor. No date yet but I'm starting to ramp it up.” It makes sense the team wouldn't push him back too quickly, especially with a full All-Star Break that will be key for Kevin Durant as well. Few teams need a mid-season break more than these Nets.
"But that's something that people should be-acknowledge and address if they do feel like they need some help in the [mental health] areas. And it's OK to do that."
-Ben Simmons asked if we need to change how we view athletes and their mental health. pic.twitter.com/Ibyu3G9zvj
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) February 15, 2022
Many wondered if Simmons position was that he wasn't mentally ready to play in Philadelphia but would be on another team. He talked about that subject. Numerous credible reports have cited the post game seven comments by Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid, both putting some of the blame on Simmons, as part of the reason the LSU product refused to play for the organization. Simmons pushed back on that narrative.
“For me it was just making sure mentally I was right to get out there and play again,” said the new Nets talent. “So that's something I've been dealing with and it wasn't about the fans, or coaches, or comments made by anybody it was just a personal thing for me that was earlier than that series or even that season that I was dealing with. And that organization knew that. It's something that I continue to deal with. And I'm getting there, getting to the right place, to get back on the floor.”
There were some whispers that Simmons had a lot on his plate long before the playoffs last season. He intimated as much in March of 2021, suggesting he needed to get his “s–t together,” around the same time that his family popped up in the news with some difficult topics.
With so much attention on gymnast Simone Biles during last summer's Olympics, people wondered if we should change the way we discuss and view athletes and their mental health. Simmons agreed with this idea on Tuesday. But said he also understand there's a business side, so people have certain expectations for performers too. He just wants athletes themselves to be able to ask for the help if and when they need it.
“But that's something that people should be-acknowledge and address if they do feel like they need some help in the [mental health] areas. And it's OK to do that.”
"They should be happy I'm just smiling, honestly. I've had some dark times over these last 6 months. I'm just happy to be in this situation with this team."
-Ben Simmons thinks the skeptics who don't buy his mental struggles should be happy he's now smiling. pic.twitter.com/IceIxatIO1
— DaveEarly (@DavidEarly) February 15, 2022
Simmons made clear that his mental health struggles preceded him wanting a trade and that the two issues were and continue to be separate.
“For me it wasn't, that was never, the mental health has nothing to do with just the trade, it was just a bunch of things I was dealing with as a person. In my personal life that I don't really want to go into depth with. But I'm hear now so, it's a blessing to be in an organization like this,” Simmons said.
The 6'10” Melbourne native talked about the devastating Sixers' game seven loss. He didn't view that, or the comments, thereafter as a straw that broke the camel's back. But it was more an accumulation of things he didn't share today.
“It was just piled up, a bunch of things that have grown over the years, to where I just knew I wasn't myself and I needed to get back into that place of being myself and being happy as a person and taking care of my well-being. That was the major thing for me, it wasn't about the basketball, it wasn't about the money. I want to be who I am.”
He did mention getting his mind right a couple times in his post-game presser last June. What specifically was going through his mind following game 7?
“That I need to get into a good place mentally,” admitted the runner up 2021 Defensive Player of the Year. Sixers fans will wonder about this for a long time. Simmons was given the chance to reply to them and help them understand what specifically about Philly made him want out. Did he ask for a trade in part because he didn't feel he could feel like himself in Philadelphia?
“Yeah I think that was part of it. I wasn't in the place there to do that. A lot of things had happened over that summer to where I didn't feel like I was getting that help. But it is what it is, I don't- it wasn't a personal thing towards any player or coach or owners or anything like that. It was about myself, getting to a place where I need to be.”
But why exactly did things get so bad there in Philly reporters pressed this point in questions.
“If I knew, I would tell you everything,” said Simmons. “Just a lot of things internally that had happened, over time and it just got to a place where I don't think it was good for me mentally so it is what it is.”
Simmons said that the way he was welcomed by the Nets organization has already given him a boost and been a positive experience. He mentioned good conversations he's already had with Kevin Durant specifically and how much he's looking forward to playing with this team. In an ironic choice of words, he said this team could be “scary.”
Maybe with all of the sensitive mental health questions being hurled his way he forgot that “scary” is still a trigger word for Nets fans after James Harden's scary hours dream never came to fruition. “Ben 10” as Nets fans have already started calling him given his new jersey number, now has a chance for a new beginning, playing alongside a couple of the greatest scorers in NBA history.
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