The team’s level of resentment toward Simmons surfaced when they met after a loss to the Indiana Pacers. Veteran forward Markieff Morris spoke in front of the team about how they need Simmons to be successful and that he needs to respond when faced with adversity on the field. Simmons appeared to take Morris’s words very seriously and was attentive and responsive throughout, sources said.

History

The Nets have faced months of turmoil in the organization, including a coaching change and an ongoing off-court dispute with star guard Kyrie Irving that led to his indefinite suspension, which has now reached seven games. On November 1, Brooklyn parted ways with manager Steve Nash after a 2-5 start to the season. The Nets named assistant Jacque Vaughn as interim coach, and The Athletic reported that the franchise planned to hire suspended Boston Celtics coach Ime Udoka. The reported plan to hire Udoka from Brooklyn drew criticism because Boston suspended the coach in September for the 2022-23 season due to his close relationship with a female member of the Celtics organization, The Athletic reported. The Nets reversed course from their original plan to hire Udoka and promoted Vaughn to head coach on November 9. On the court, the Nets struggled to a 6-9 record. Simmons returned from back surgery in May to play early this season, but recently missed eight days to drain his left knee due to fluid. After starting the season as the starting point guard, Simmons was the backup center in his final four games. It’s the first time he’s come off the bench in his seven NBA seasons. He was a scratch in Sunday’s loss to the Lakers, with the team citing left knee soreness as the reason for his absence. That early season stint was just the latest setback in two years of injuries and health problems for Simmons.

What does Simmons say?

In a conversation with The AthleteSimmons acknowledged the criticism he knows is coming his way. “Obviously you’re not going to be happy when somebody’s out,” Simmons said. “But for me, I’ve been dealing with the knee since the beginning of the season. It has swollen. I had PRP (injections). I had bled a couple of times. So it’s not made up, you know? It’s a real thing. “I understand (the skepticism), but I think the one thing about me is that I’m a competitor. I want to win and play. So I’m going to do whatever I can to get out there.”

Required reading

(Photo: Wendell Cruz/USA Today)