Ben Simmons dazzled in return to Brooklyn Nets lineup… hear me out

Former 76er and Top-5 Most Hated Philly Athlete Ben Simmons finally made his return to the court for the Brooklyn Nets and, surprisingly, looked pretty solid. He went 5/5 from the field and was flying around the hardwood, which I must say had my mind wandering a bit with the trade deadline coming up on Feb. 8.

Ben Simmons moved the best he has in a long time in a blowout win over the Utah Jazz:

COOKIES & JAM

By @BenSimmons25 pic.twitter.com/xzDqr8b4EI

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 30, 2024

BEN10 NO LOOK DIME

6 Ast in 5 Mins pic.twitter.com/n7kDoXIPt1

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 30, 2024

That's TUFF @BenSimmons25 pic.twitter.com/ssnaTCgxXy

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 30, 2024

Look at this stat line; not bad for his first game back. 6 assists in five minutes? Sheesh.

– 10 Pts
- 11 Ast
-  8 Reb
-  100 FG%
-  +27

Hear me out. Daryl Morey needs to bring Ben Simmons back to Philly. Sure, I’m going out on one of the flimsiest limbs of all time here, but just bear with me for a moment. That’s why I’m publishing this after everyone else at TLL is either asleep or watching the Sixers.

I know you’re probably thinking, “Fuck Ben Simmons. Why would he want him back?” I want you to look inward and think about the source of those feelings.

As a wise man once said, hate is the purest form of love. This city loved him, and when he spurned us, it hurt. It still hurts sometimes. Even if you hated him, it was out of love, because you wanted nothing more than for him to improve as a player. So I understand that hate in your heart.

The clichés keep coming, but if you love something, set it free. If it is meant to be, it will find its way back to you. If he finds his way back on the Sixers roster, then it’s guaranteed the Sixers win the title. The salary cap situation doesn’t make sense so it probably won’t happen, but I don’t care. It’s the stuff of dreams.

If he doesn’t, it won’t hurt the team’s chances, but winning is far from guaranteed in the NBA. The team is no longer “built around him, so he’ll have to slot in where he’s needed, and if not, he can ride the pine in a Dior tracksuit.

Is there a chance it’d blow up in our faces spectacularly? Sure! But let me paint you a word picture.

Imagine Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons hand in hand on Broad Street, hoisting the Larry O as teammates and best friends forever. Really picture it in your mind’s eye.

Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn’t hug whoever’s next to you and cry at the sight of it. You can’t, and if you are, you’re lying to my face. And even worse, you’re lying to yourself.

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