Nets' Ben Simmons Says He Was 'Too Excited' for Return to Court After Year Absence

It was mostly a night to forget for Ben Simmons as he returned to the court for the first time since the NBA playoffs.

In the Nets' 130-108 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, Simmons finished with four points before he was ejected in the 23rd minute. The moment got the best of him when he came back to the court, he said.

He said he was too excited. It was wonderful to be out there.

The Nets were one of the most disappointing teams in the league last season, as their once-vaunted Big Three of Kevin Durant, James Harden and Kyrie Irving all fell by the wayside. Irving missed a lot of time because he remained unvaccinated against Colovid-19, while the latter was traded to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons didn't play last year because of the Harden trade. Brooklyn's ceiling was elevated as it attempts to bounce back in 2022-23 due to the possibility that he could rediscover the form he once showed in Philadelphia as a player who can swing the game with his passing and defense.

He missed both of his free throws, took just three shots, and didn't attempt a three-pointer.

The only reason it wasn't an even bigger margin of defeat was because of the offensive brilliance of KD.

Simmons wasn't the only one coming back to the court after missing the season. He had 25 points, nine rebound, four steal, and three assists, giving the fans reason to be optimistic.

The top-seeded Phoenix Suns were challenged by the New Orleans Hornets without him last season. The best teams in the Western Conference could be in danger now that it has its own Big Three with its own players.

Simmons will have the chance to prove that the first game was an outlier when the Nets host the Raptors on Friday.