Amid criticism and injury setbacks, Ben Simmons finds his path back to the NBA spotlight, praising teammate Dyson Daniels as a potential Defensive Player of the Year.
In recent interviews, Simmons, who plays for the Los Angeles Clippers, voiced his strong support for his teammate Dyson Daniels, calling him a frontrunner for NBA Defensive Player of the Year. Simmons remarked, "Dyson's just been killing it. He's been all over it — Defensive Player of the Year for me." This commendation comes as Daniels leads the league with an impressive 3.0 steals and 6.0 deflections per game this season.
Daniels has been a revelation on the court, averaging 13.9 points, 5.6 rebounds, 4.2 assists, and bolstered by a defensive tenacity that has made him a force. With 0.7 blocks per game alongside those steals and deflections, his contributions have not gone unnoticed. In contrast, Simmons is working hard to regain form after two back surgeries, contributing 6.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists while shooting 53.7% from the field.
In the midst of Daniels' ascent and Simmons pioneering role, Simmons is navigating through a tumultuous career chapter. On March 18, 2025, he responded to media criticism from ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, attributing some of the challenges in his career to how the media portrays him. Smith had long framed Simmons's struggles and commitment to basketball as questionable, a narrative that Simmons is dedicated to countering.
“It’s hard not to give it to him,” Simmons added, pointing not only to Daniels's performance but also addressing his own journey. Simmons emphasized, “Basketball is my life. I don't want to play with my life. This is what I do. Wake up, basketball's my thing.”
Reflecting on his own battles, Simmons recounted the hardships associated with his back surgeries. He initially attempted to avoid surgery, hoping rehabilitation would suffice. However, he ultimately underwent two surgeries that stopped him from playing the entire 2021-22 season. Following the most recent surgery, Simmons stated, “It was day and night in terms of how it was feeling, moving day-to-day with that second surgery.”
Despite these setbacks, Simmons has exhibited resilience and a determination to remain engaged with basketball in some capacity, whether through coaching or mentoring future players. “I’ve been doing this my whole life since I was four years old. So nothing is going to change that,” he declared.
With the NBA season progressing, Simmons’s narrative continues to evolve as he strives to reclaim his stature in the league. As he pushes through to reach higher performance levels, his endorsement of Daniels shows both admiration and a need to pivot the conversation surrounding his own career trajectory.
What remains essential is Simmons's ability to focus on his game and silence the doubters, including critics like Smith. He must convert this attention into performance and show that he remains a formidable presence in basketball, regardless of the uphill battles faced.
As the season unfolds, all eyes will be on Simmons and his efforts to reshape his future in the league, alongside the promising emergence of Dyson Daniels.
