Ben Simmons’ journey in the NBA has been anything but smooth, and his struggles have continued even after his midseason trade from the Brooklyn Nets to the Los Angeles Clippers. Despite the change of scenery, Simmons’ performance on the stat sheet has shown little improvement, and questions about his role and production persist. However, Clippers head coach Tyronn Lue remains committed to finding ways to bring out the best in the former No. 1 overall pick, pushing Simmons to be more assertive on the offensive end.
Speaking to the media recently, Lue admitted that he and Simmons have had multiple conversations about the need for greater aggression. “Yeah, we did. We talked about it the last couple of days, and today he was aggressive attacking the basket, playing with pace, getting to the rim, making the plays, finishing at the rim. We need him to be aggressive. The pace is great, but also look at the rim to be a scoring threat,” Lue said. It’s clear that while the Clippers appreciate Simmons’ ability to push the pace and facilitate, they are encouraging him to rediscover a scoring mindset that once made him a rising star.
The Clippers finished the regular season as the fifth seed in the Western Conference, setting up a challenging first-round playoff matchup against the defending champion Denver Nuggets. Simmons will not be asked to carry the scoring load for Los Angeles, especially with stars like James Harden and Kawhi Leonard leading the offense. But even in a supporting role, Lue and the coaching staff know that Simmons can make a significant impact with his defensive versatility, rebounding, and ability to push the tempo.
Earlier this season with Brooklyn, Simmons faced mounting criticism for his limited offensive production and persistent injuries. In Los Angeles, he has a new role carved out for him, one that focuses less on scoring and more on maximizing his playmaking and defensive skills. Still, there is a hope that Simmons can find confidence in attacking the basket when opportunities arise, rather than merely being a facilitator.
Lue also noted the strategic differences Simmons brings compared to teammate Nicolas Batum, particularly when both are used as small-ball centers. “Ben’s ability to push the basketball in transition, make plays, get people easy shots. With Nico, if he’s at the 5, being able to stretch the floor. If Joker’s gonna blitz or in the drop, he has to recover back to Nico who can shoot the basketball, get to the next action, and try to move Joker around a little bit,” Lue explained. While Batum offers valuable floor spacing, Simmons’ strength lies in his transition game and ability to create plays for others.
Through 18 appearances with the Clippers, Simmons has averaged a modest 2.9 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game. Those numbers don’t jump off the page, but the Clippers are hoping his intangible contributions — defensive pressure, speed, and unselfishness — will pay off as the intensity ramps up in the postseason. While he may no longer be the centerpiece he once was projected to become, Simmons still has an opportunity to carve out a meaningful role on a playoff contender if he can embrace the aggressive mentality his coach is urging him to rediscover.
