Ben Simmons spotted inside Brooklyn Nets arena, closing in on NBA comeback
Ben Simmons has made an appearance in Brooklyn just days after securing his dream move out of Philadelphia in a blockbuster trade as he continues to progress towards a return to the court.
After a lengthy standoff between the Australian and his former team which resulted in him sitting out the entirety of the current season to date, Simmons was dealt to the Nets in exchange for 2018 NBA MVP James Harden at the trade deadline last week.
It remains unclear when the 25-year-old will return to the court as he continues to work on his mental health. Simmons' camp has indicated that he intends to play at some point during this season.
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The Nets released a short clip of Simmons inside the team's home arena, the Barclays Center, prior to the team's match-up against the Sacramento Kings.
Ben Simmons was seen holding a basketball before greeting superstar Nets teammate Kevin Durant Twitter
The seven-second video shows Simmons with a basketball in hand walking over to All-Star teammate Kevin Durant, who is also currently sidelined.
According to Nets coach Steve Nash, the Australian is yet to take part in a full workout with the team, having only done initial physical assessment tests.
"I think he's in a pretty good state mentally," Nash told reporters prior to the Kings clash.
"If we work with him in conjunction to his physical ramp-up to make sure he's comfortable on and off the floor, I think he'll be ready to play mentally when he's physically ready.
"Ben is such a unique talent. His brilliance is he does so many things well on the basketball court — it's going to be fun putting him in our program and finding his best level."
There was further evidence of Simmons' positive progress during the Nets-Kings clash, with the Australian sitting on the bench alongside his new teammates, as well as some who'd followed him over to Brooklyn from Philadelphia in the trade.
Vision during the YES Network's broadcast saw Simmons sharing some jokes with fellow Sixer-turned-Net, Andre Drummond on the bench.
Both Drummond and Seth Curry, the other piece in the Harden-Simmons deal, started against the Kings in their first game for Brooklyn since the trade.
