Ben Simmons had a tough first season with the Nets and it was mirrored in his relationship with head coach Jacque Vaughn.
The 27-year-old was battling a number of illnesses that included recovering from main again surgical procedure.
Because of this, Simmons struggled on the court docket and was berated by the media for it.
Vaughn additionally discovered the scenario to be fairly irritating.
But the pinnacle coach has turned a nook and realised he was anticipating an excessive amount of of Simmons throughout the 2022-23 season.
“At that time, I was at a place where, as a coach, I’m always gonna have a standard, and that standard is of what I expect guys on the team to do, how we want them to play and ask them to do things for the sake of the team,” Vaughn said.
“I think Ben’s and I’s relationship is in such a good place right now because we’ve been able to talk through that moment of our lives where I expected him to do things that I’ve come to understand physically he wasn’t able to do. I think at that time, you kept hearing me talk about force, and those things and how I wanted him to play.”
He went on to elucidate how he and Simmons’ relationship has improved out of sight.
“Now (I’ve had) a revelation where I’ve seen the work he’s put in, where he was at, some of those things have been revealed to me, and I think that’s why our relationship is at a really good place right now. The things that I’m asking him to do going forward, I think he can physically do now. And so, it does put us in a position where I can use multiple lineups and put different people around him so we can have success on both ends of the floor.”
Simmons’ camp and the Nets are reporting that he will likely be wholesome and able to go for the upcoming season.
Vaughn stated that the previous All-Star has been enjoying five-on-five and could have an expanded function on offense if he can keep wholesome.
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