The 2024-25 NBA season was a turbulent one for Ben Simmons, the former NBA All-Star starting the year as a Brooklyn Net and concluding with the Los Angeles Clippers.
Now a free agent, Simmons time with the Clippers was a mixed bag, featuring a number of impressive performances early before he saw his minutes shrink as the team bowed out in the first round after a seven-game thriller against the Denver Nuggets.
With the Australian now in search of his next NBA team, his former coach has expressed regret for how he utilised Simmons.
LA Clippers coach regrets mishandling of Ben Simmons
Across 18 games for the Clippers, Ben Simmons played an average of 16.4 minutes, struggling to carve out a consistent role in the rotation.
After an impressive debut of 12 points, seven rebounds and six assists, his usage decreased drastically, something that coach Tyronn Lue said was a mistake on his end.
"I'm pissed off at myself because he needs the ball in his hands, and so does James, and so does Kawhi," Lue said during an appearance on the Club Shay Shay podcast.
"It was hard, it was just a tough dynamic, and I take full responsibility. I didn't figure it out the way I needed to.
"I think the injuries really set him back. You know, having back surgeries, then we acquired him this year, seeing his knee, all the things he had to fight through just to be able to get on the floor, I think that played a big role."
Simmons has been linked to the New York Knicks and Boston Celtics during free agency, as the former All-NBA player seeks his next home in the league.