Welcome to Layup Lines, For the Win’s basketball newsletter. Subscribe here to get it delivered to your inbox every afternoon. This is Mike Sykes
OK, OK. Look. Don’t roast me, please.
I’ve been the resident Ben Simmons apologist on the staff for years at this point. Seriously. I’ve been doing this for a minute. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, shame on you.
Fool me eight times, yeah, I’m an idiot.
Yet, here I am for the 9th time. Telling you that this time, Simmons is going to be the Simmons he’s supposed to be. What does that look like? I’m not completely sure. But I do think it’ll be good.
Roll your eyes all you want, but the situation is ripe for Simmons to find his groove again.
This season for the Nets there are absolutely no expectations. The Nets could stink! No one would care. They’re not the Knicks and they don’t have two superstars. It’s just vibes in Brooklyn. Vibes, y’all.
This is the sort of situation Simmons has needed to be in all along. There’s no pressure to do anything but play ball. It’s the first time he’s been in this spot in his NBA career.
There’s always been pressure to win from the time he first stepped on the court with the 76ers to his time last season with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving on the Nets.
On top of that, Simmons wasn’t the healthiest both mentally and physically. His back has proven to be a constant issue for him, which is also a pretty big setback.
But today, per SNY’s Ian Begley, Simmons is “100% healthy” and in line to compete for a starting point guard job in Brooklyn. Mikal Bridges also seems pretty pumped about playing with him, which I’m not sure is something that has ever actually been said about Simmons in his NBA career.
But it’s a new day, folks. This lone patch of land that I occupy on Ben Simmons Island has a little bit of value again. My flag is planted on the hill and I’m ready to die on it. For the 12th time. But who’s counting, right?
Let’s go Nets.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
LeBron James and his family have been pretty coy about Bronny James’ health situation, which is totally understandable. A cardiac arrest is super scary. Any family would want to handle that with lots of care, so it’s great that the James family is doing just that.
But James was nice enough to give us a quick update on his son on Thursday. Cory Woodruff has more here.
“I want to thank the countless people sending my family love and prayers. We feel you and I’m so grateful. Everyone doing great. We have our family together, safe and healthy, and we feel your love. Will have more to say when we’re ready but I wanted to tell everyone how much your support has meant to all of us!”
Shoutout to Bronny, man. Get well soon.
Shootaround
—Zion Williamson is in a bit of trouble. Again. Sigh.
— Kevin Durant talked about how he helped lighten the NBA up on weed. Pun intended.
— Jaylen Brown talks about creating a new Black Wall Street in Boston through his new deal.
Be kind to one another. Enjoy the weekend.
