The Brooklyn Nets did not quite live up to the defensive expectations laid out for them during the 2023-24 season. Despite possessing two former All-Defensive players in the lineup and another fringe Defensive Player of the Year candidate, the Nets finished the regular season 22nd in the NBA's Team Defense rankings. However, that could change given the status of one of the squad's best defenders, and his name is not Nic Claxton.
Yes, Nic Claxton has seen incredible improvement throughout his five-year career. During the 2022-23 season, he leapt to a career-high 2.5 blocks per game, which ranked him third in the league behind former Defensive Player of the Year Jaren Jackson Jr. Furthermore, Claxton has embraced the challenge of guarding opposing players off switches, establishing himself as a matchup pest.
However, Claxton is not the only one who can do those things. Enter Ben Simmons.
Ben Simmons can redeem himself and become the Nets' leading 2023-24 NBA DPOY candidate
Once upon a time, Simmons was regarded as a top-two defender in the NBA. He finished second in Defensive Player of the Year voting for the 2020-21 season. That year, Simmons ranked ninth in defensive win shares, eighth in defensive box plus/minus, and eighth in steal percentage. Just a year prior, he was the NBA's steals champion. Yet, Simmons' presence on the defensive end was about more than mere stats.
At 6-foot-10 with a 7-foot wingspan, Simmons had (and still retains) the physical tools to guard nearly anyone on the court. In addition, his lateral quickness and instincts make him a true stopper. Simmons has the accolades to back up his abilities. He made the NBA's All-Defensive First Team two years in a row in 2019-20 and 2020-21.
Nevertheless, the elephant in the room remains: Can Simmons stay healthy enough and produce enough to get back to his previous heights?
For two seasons in a row, back injuries have derailed Simmons' playing time with the Brooklyn Nets. But if he is healthy, fans cannot underestimate his capabilities. Despite previous bumps in the road, Simmons is "100 percent" healthy for the 2024-25 season's start, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post.
Nets fans are used to the tune of Simmons looking good before seeing his progress derailed by untimely injuries. But give him the benefit of the doubt just one more time. As the former All-Star enters a crucial season, the whole borough will be behind him, cheering him on as he leads the Nets' attack on opposing offenses.