Three years in the past, Ben Simmons was traded to the Nets in alternate for James Harden within the blockbuster deal of the 2022 NBA commerce deadline.
Now, the 2 are teammates in Hollywood after Simmons signed with the Clippers after he was purchased out by the Nets final weekend.
However the latest member of the Clippers had no real interest in discussing the full-circle nature of the entire saga.
“I’m a competitor. I simply wish to compete,” Simmons mentioned Tuesday. “I don’t know all of the bulls–t that’s mentioned on-line. That doesn’t come from me. I wish to compete and I’m right here to do this. To play alongside a few of these nice gamers is gonna be nice. I feel everyone seems to be simply going to push one another to be higher. They anticipate greatness, in order that’s my expectation coming to the Clippers.”
Simmons, 28, has been hampered by accidents through the course of his profession, and numerous well being points plagued his tenure with the Nets following the commerce with the Sixers in 2022.
Accidents have been such a difficulty that Simmons hasn’t performed greater than 60 video games in a season since his second 12 months within the NBA.
Final season, he appeared in simply 15 contests for the Nets.
Simmons performed in 33 video games this 12 months and averaged 6.2 factors, 6.9 assists and 5.2 rebounds in 25 minutes per recreation.
The guard informed reporters Tuesday the Clippers made him really feel “wished.”
“I feel simply chatting with Ty Lue, everybody was simply very clear,” Simmons mentioned. “They know what I’m able to and what they anticipate from me… I feel it’s simpler when groups are clear and perceive what you’re, what you want, how they might help, and the way I might help them. So for me, I really feel snug.”
The Clippers can be again in motion Wednesday after they host the Grizzlies.