NBA Rumors: Scout Has "Devastating Comment" About Ben Simmons

To put it lightly, it has been a brutal return to game action for beleaguered Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons. After sitting out nearly 500 days, the former All-Defensive player is having a difficult time, to say the least, re-integrating himself into the NBA game. 

His inability to shoot is still dogging him to an alarming level, as this airball layup attempt Thursday night blatantly illustrates.

But on top of that, the former two-time first-team All-Defensive player and runner-up for defensive player of the year in 2021 is having a seriously hard time just staying on the floor due to foul trouble.  

And the Ben Simmons Points vs. Fouls Watch continues... After Thursday night's game, Simmons has 22 fouls and 28 points this season. But here's where it gets even more interesting. 

According to ESPN NBA Insider Brian Windhorst, this inability to stay on the floor doesn't seem to be bothering Simmons. 

"I was talking to a scout today," related Windhorst on his Hoop Collective podcast Friday morning, "and he had a devastating comment about what he's seen with Ben: He said when he gets taken out of these games with foul trouble, because he's constantly in foul trouble, that it doesn't upset him. In this scout's opinion, he's happy to come off the floor."

After observers questioned Simmons' desire to play for the last year-and-a-half after he sat out all of last season with a combination of a trade demand, a "mental unreadiness to play" and a back issue, it appears that that theory is taking on more validity. 

In 31 minutes per game in his return, Simmons is averaging 5.6 points (down from his career average of 15.8), 6.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists and 4.4 fouls. 

The Nets are now 1-4, and are 29th in the league in defense. Simmons isn't helping, and Brooklyn continues to struggle. 

Photo: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports