Aussies in the NBA: News on the boys from Down Under in the best league in the world

Plenty has been said, written and tweeted about Ben Simmons’ reluctance to shoot the basketball. Coach Jacque Vaughn has provided an interesting take on the improving Aussie.

Ben Simmons says his body is the best it’s felt since off-season back surgery as his coach called his controversial lack of shooting a “luxury”.

The Aussie scored in double digits for the fifth time in as many games as the Nets bounced back from an “embarrassing” loss to a depleted Philadelphia to topple Toronto 112-98.

Simmons had 15 points, six rebounds, three steals and two blocks in another impressive performance, a night after double-doubling against the 76ers.

It’s an upward trajectory that is helping doubters forget the 26-year-old’s early-season struggles.

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Ben Simmons drives against the Raptors. Picture: Cole Burston/Getty Images

“So far, this is the best I’ve felt in terms of just moving, obviously it’s a back-to-back too, I think my minutes were supposed to be lower but I was trying to push myself and I wanted to be out there to help the team win,” Simmons said.

“I see certain things that are said but I know where I’m at so I’m just pushing myself and trying to get back to where I need to be.

“I know who I am, I know what I’m capable of and I know what this team needs me to do, so I’m just going to keep working and being consistent with my body and on the court.”

The Nets led by 15 in the first half, before the Raptors clawed it back to one. But Simmons and the Nets got an up close and personal look at how devastating an engaged Kyrie Irving can be, the controversial guard pouring in 19 third-quarter points, including seven straight buckets, to help kill off the game.

Asked about Simmons’ apparent inability – or reluctance – to shoot jumpshots, coach Jacque Vaughn had an interesting take.

Simmons says his body is the best it’s felt since off-season back surgery. Picture: Cole Burston/GETTY IMAGES

“I think it’s a luxury,” Vaughn said of the major chink in Simmons’ armour that has caused fans and analysts to mercilessly pick him apart at times.

“Most people in basketball want to score the basketball all the time and are thinking about scoring and you’ve got a guy who is not thinking about scoring but making his teammates better the majority of the time that he is on the floor.

“That is a luxury, he really enjoys getting other people involved and when we can surround shooting with him, pretty tough to guard.”

Simmons and the Nets have a day off before three games in four days, starting with a visit to Indiana on Saturday, tip-off at noon AEDT.

Meanwhile, former Melbourne United star Jack White produced a highlight-reel moment on fellow Aussie Josh Giddey when he sent the Thunder point guard’s attempt at the hoop packing during his first meaningful NBA minutes with the Denver Nuggets.

With back up big man DeAndre Jordan out, White – all 200cms – saw first-quarter minutes as an undersized centre behind superstar Nikola Jokic in Denver’s 131-126 overtime win.

Originally published as Aussies in the NBA: News on the boys from Down Under in the best league in the world