Basketball <\/p>\n
For four years now, basketball fans have been waiting for a glimpse of the old Ben Simmons\u2014the versatile two-way guard who set the NBA alight around the start of the decade, inviting comparisons to legendary Los Angeles Lakers<\/a> forward LeBron James.<\/p>\n It’s unlikely that precise version of Simmons will resurface, but the LSU<\/a> product is still just 28. On Tuesday, Simmons outlined his simple reasoning for joining the Los Angeles Clippers<\/a> after the Brooklyn Nets<\/a> bought him out Saturday.<\/p>\n “I think making the decision to come here\u2014I felt wanted,” Simmons said. “That’s something you wanna feel when you go to work, and you wanna compete at a high level. Obviously, these guys have been competing at a high level.”<\/p>\n Simmons averaged 6.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 6.9 assists per game for the Nets this season. His win shares per 48 minutes hit a career low .070 three years after a holdout and back injury cost him an entire season.<\/p>\n “The coaching staff is great. The medical staff has been great,” Simmons said of the Clippers. “For me, that’s a welcoming experience… I just want to compete and help this team win.”<\/p>\n The Clippers are currently 29-23, sixth in the Western Conference and .002 points ahead of the seventh-place Minnesota Timberwolves<\/a> by winning percentage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n