Simmons’ play is turning heads in Brooklyn

For the past two seasons, the Brooklyn Nets seemed to lead the NBA in dysfunction.

When Kyrie Irving’s mouth wasn’t getting him suspended, Kevin Durant was making clear he and head coach Steve Nash couldn’t exist on the same team and James Harden just wanted out. Period.

When the former MVP got his wish in February 2022, his trade to the Philadelphia 76ers brought back one of the league’s most enigmatic players in Ben Simmons. And now the 6-foot-10-inch Australian has been one of the keys to the Nets’ recent winning streak.

On Dec. 23, he was instrumental in shutting out two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ 118-100 win over the Milwaukee Bucks, and four days later he held Donovan Mitchell to 5-of-16 shooting in Brooklyn’s 125-117 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers.

These aren’t contributions that show up in any box score but fans, opposing players and certainly his teammates notice.

Still, the defense- and passing-first point guard has managed to put up some impressive secondary numbers during his team’s streak. In the 10 wins from Dec. 7-28, he had the team’s best net rating (+21.7) and defensive rating (106.6) as well as the top offensive rating (127.9) among the regular rotation players. Not bad for someone not known for his shooting.

He’s still getting used to his new teammates as well as healing from May back surgery. So the best may be yet to come as the No. 2-seeded Nets strive to take the top seed from the Boston Celtics in the East.

Simmons and the Nets can be seen on national television twice this week: visiting his former teammates the 76ers Wednesday, Jan. 25, on ESPN, and at home against the New York Knicks, Saturday, Jan. 28, on ABC.