7 NBA stars with the most to prove in the 2023-24 season

PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA - OCTOBER 20: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers and Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks react during the first quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2023 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images) /

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NBA Star #5: Ben Simmons

Ever since Ben Simmons passed up an open basket during the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals, he has been one of the most criticized guys in the NBA.

He has a fear of being fouled, he does not love the game and he is faking injuries. These are all narratives that followed his substantial hiccup, the holdout, and the trade request that ensued later. The stories continued as he repeatedly showed a lack of aggression after landing with the Brooklyn Nets.

Each accusation played to questions about Simmons’ psyche—before and after his admitted struggles with his mental health. What was also overlooked was the amount of time it would take to recover from back surgery.

Now that he is fully healthy, expect Simmons to spend more time driving downhill on a quest to get to the basket. During the preseason, he showed aggressive flashes of his unique, former point guard self, including crashing the boards and distributing the rock.

A resurgence of his skills would be a welcomed experience for the fans, the organization, and Simmons’ career after a few rocky years.

While these may not be the scary hours that James Harden discussed during his tenure in Brooklyn, Simmons could form an exciting group with Mikal Bridges, Cam Johnson, and Spencer Dinwiddie.

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