Brooklyn Nets Hold Players-Only Meeting Without Ben Simmons

The woes of the Brooklyn Nets continue to pile up, and it appears a new problem has cropped up by the name of Ben Simmons.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Nets held a players-only meeting without the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year last October 29.

The meeting was held after the Nets bowed to the Indiana Pacers, 125-116.

That loss dropped them to a 1-5 win-loss record in the NBA Eastern Conference.

At the time, Simmons was hardly producing the expected numbers for Brooklyn.

Against Indiana, the Australian cager had nine points, nine assists and eight rebounds. It was his best statistical game for the season.

Considering Simmons is battling physical injuries, his contributions are more than acceptable.

But given that he owns a deal that is worth more than $110 million, more is expected out of the three-time All-Star.

"You're obviously not gonna be happy when anybody's out," Simmons said. "But for me, I've been dealing with the knee since the start of the season. It's been swollen. I had PRP (injections). I had blood drained a couple times. So it's not a made up thing, you know? It's a real thing."

Since then, the Nets have improved their record to 6-9.

However, their last game left a lot to be desired as the Nets were blown out by the Sacramento Kings, 153-121, with Simmons finishing with 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Hence, questions are now reportedly up in the air on Simmons' desire to win.

Most know his story with the Philadelphia 76ers and how he passed on playing for the Nets following his trade.

The 26-year-old player is under contract with the Nets until 2025, and there is no telling what the future holds.

But it is clear that Simmons needs to step up his game and show his value to the Nets at the earliest possible time.

Brooklyn has had a colorful start to its 2022-23 NBA season, starting with the severance of Steve Nash and then the suspension of Kyrie Irving.

However, sources tell ESPN that the All-Star guard could be returning soon once he completes the requirements needed to be reinstated.

The seven-time All-Star is carrying out a minimum five-game suspension without pay for his failure to initially apologize for and condemn his social media link to a film riddled with antisemitic material.