Ben Simmons, Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray make long-awaited returns

Nuggets followers rejoice Jamal Murray’s halftime buzzer-beater in his return to motion Monday in opposition to the Thunder.

NEW YORK (AP) — Ben Simmons streaked behind the protection and caught a move in transition that he dunked. A few minute later, he fired a cross-court move to a Brooklyn Nets teammate for a 3-pointer.

These had been the sorts of performs the Philadelphia 76ers had seen many occasions earlier than.

On Monday, Simmons lastly made them for one more staff.

Simmons performed in opposition to his former membership in his first NBA sport since June 2021, making him amongst quite a few large names who acquired again to basketball motion.

“I’m grateful simply to have the ability to step on that ground, step on an NBA ground once more,” Simmons stated. “So I had lots of enjoyable on the market.”

Kawhi Leonard additionally returned for the Los Angeles Clippers, as did Jamal Murray for the Denver Nuggets, after they each sat out final season recovering from surgical procedures for ACL tears.

539 days later… BOUT THAT TIME!!

— Jamal Murray (@BeMore27) October 3, 2022

That’s little question how their groups felt after anticipating to be title contenders final season however as an alternative having these hopes wrecked by accidents. Paul George additionally missed vital time for the Clippers, and Michael Porter Jr. was out for all however 9 video games for the Nuggets.

All of them performed Monday, together with Damian Lillard returning for Portland after lacking the ultimate 47 video games final season, when the Clippers and Path Blazers met in a preseason sport.

“As a fan of the sport, Kawhi being again is nice for basketball, Jamal Murray being again is nice for basketball,” the Nets’ Kevin Durant stated. “All the fellows which were out injured and capable of play once more, it’s an excellent feeling simply seeing them on the market.”

Simmons hoped he was near taking part in final February after getting traded to the Nets in a deal headlined by James Harden. Simmons had cited psychological well being causes in searching for a commerce from the 76ers following a disappointing postseason when he took a bulk of the criticism after the No. 1 seed within the Jap Convention was ousted by Atlanta within the second spherical.

However a herniated disk stored him from making a late-season debut and compelled him to get offseason surgical procedure.

Absolutely cleared now, Simmons was within the beginning lineup and completed with six factors, 5 assists and 4 rebounds in 19 minutes. He went weakly out of Philadelphia, with the final reminiscence of the 2016 No. 1 choose’s time there passing up a layup down the stretch of the Sport 7 loss to the Hawks. However he seemed assured pushing the ball in transition or playmaking from the put up — although did miss his solely two free throws.

Simmons stated he thought he would really feel nervous however didn’t. Durant recalled feeling anxious when he returned after lacking the 2019-20 season after Achilles tendon surgical procedure.

“You marvel how your lungs are going to really feel taking part in in an organized sport as a result of taking part in pickup, figuring out is completely different than taking part in in a sport,” Durant stated. “So that you simply wish to see the place your legs are on the soar shot. So being away for a yr, you get lots of nervousness coming again. I do know I did.”

Leonard final performed only a few days earlier than Simmons, within the 2021 Western Convention semifinals. Murray’s absence was even longer, having torn his ACL in April 2021 and leaving him unable to attempt to duplicate the good postseason he had whereas main the Nuggets to the 2020 West finals at Walt Disney World.

“These long-term accidents are robust, darkish,” Oklahoma Metropolis coach Mark Daigneault stated. “These guys should not have lengthy home windows to play basketball, they can’t play till they’re 50. It’s robust and takes lots of dedication and work. The progress, particularly early on, is nearly invisible. You’re non-weight bearing for a considerable amount of time with these sorts of accidents. Definitely glad for him and need him properly, by way of staying wholesome. He’s a extremely good participant and their staff will profit from having him again.”