Basketball: Ben Simmons working with Patty Mills as NBA comeback put off

There’s few better people for Ben Simmons to be around than Patty Mills as he works towards an NBA comeback.

Ben Simmons in Brooklyn Adam Hunger/Getty Images/AFP

Ben Simmons won’t be ready to suit up for Brooklyn when the slumping Nets take on his old team the Philadelphia 76ers this weekend but is working on ways to “get better” when he finally makes his NBA return.

Simmons was traded to the Nets for James Harder on February 10 but remains sidelined with a back issue and will miss what could have been a fiery clash with his old team, particularly outspoken teammate Joel Embiid.

But Australian and Brooklyn teammate Patty Mills said the 25-year-old still needed time to assimilate with the Nets and was giving him some “guidance and perspective” as Simmons looks to rebuild his NBA career having not played a game this season.

“Obviously, just making him [Simmons] feel comfortable within the team, and not only in the locker room but the offence, the defence, getting him familiar with certain things, getting on the court with him,” Mills, who scored just three points in a Monday loss to the Boston Celtics, said.

Patty Mills in action against Boston . Adam Hunger/Getty Images/AFP

“Obviously, he’s putting in a lot of hard work not only with his rehab with his back, but also finding his ways or how he can get better in the situation that he’s in at the moment. I think that the biggest thing has been being able to give him some guidance and perspective.”

Even with the return of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving the Nets slumped to a 32-33 win-loss record after the 126-120 loss to the Celtics.

The inclusion of Simmons may not be the answer to Brooklyn’s problems, but Mills know what a fully fit Simmons, a dormer NBA All-Star, could bring.

“He’s going to be a threat either way. On ball, off ball, whether he’s handling the ball, whether he’s off the ball as a screener, I think he’s such a threat that he’s going to draw a lot of attention,” Mills said.

“So, I think given his IQ, and the way he can pass the ball and handle the ball, that makes us better at his bare minimum.

“So, obviously, where he’s the biggest threat is in an open-court situation with people, especially shooters around him. But, like I said, a bare-minimum Ben Simmons makes this team a whole lot better as well. [I am] looking forward to it.”

Originally published as Basketball: Ben Simmons working with Patty Mills as NBA comeback put off