Nets continue to challenge Ben Simmons, hoping for rise of an All-Star

Ben Simmons remains an enigma. Once seen as a future stud in the NBA, the former All-Star and All-Defensive Team standout has failed to build on his encouraging start to life in the NBA. Simmons hasn't been the same player since missing the 2021-22 season due to a back injury. 

However, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez is doing everything he can to get Simmons back to the player he once was. At 28 years old, he should be entering the prime of his career. Simmons' biggest issue is his lack of confidence when looking to score the basketball.

"He is physically getting where he’s supposed to be, and those attempts need to go up," Fernandez told Ryan Dunleavy of the New York Post. "Because then we are all going to benefit from it. I don’t care about makes-misses. I just want to see shots going up. He’s more than capable of doing it, so he’ll get there for sure." 

Fernandez recently outlined his targets for Simmons after he took just four shot attempts in 24 minutes of playing time during the Nets' loss to the Detroit Pistons on Sunday. 

"My goal for him is 10 (shot attempts)," Fernandez said. "He has to find a way to get there. He hasn’t gotten there yet, but I know he can."