Former NBA player addresses the real issue behind Ben Simmons’ decreased offensive endeavor: “I think it’s gotten to him so much mentally that it’s built a block in his mind”

Ben Simmons’ has been been offering a below-average offensive performance since he joined Brooklyn.

Many are speculating on if this is simply Simmons’ new standard, or if he is suffering from a mental block.

Jim Jackson joined the 'Dan Patrick Show' to give his reasons surrounding the downfall of Ben Simmons.

Jackson is chalking the poor performance up to a mental block. The former player even refers to Simmons as a ‘case study’ for just how mental sports really are.

After the poor playoff showing in Philadelphia that led to Ben Simmons sitting out and ultimately leaving to Brooklyn, he has been unable to gain traction.

There have been multiple occasions this season where Simmons has an open drive, and his first look is to pass the ball. There is a clear confidence issue in his playing.

Jackson outlined:

“Ben Simmons, a few years ago, who wasn’t afraid to get to the basket, missed a free throw, so what? He was ultra aggressive. When I watched him last Saturday I forgot he was on the court … I think it’s gotten to him so much mentally that it’s built a block in his mind.”

For the years prior to his poor playoff performance in 2020-21, Simmons averaged 15.8 points-per-game in 2017-18, 16.9 in 2018-19, and then 16.4 in 2019-20.

Simmons also averaged 1.7 steals per-game in 1017-18, 1.4 in 2018-19, and 2.1 in 2019-20.

In 2020-21, he went down to averaging 14.3 points-per-game but still managed 1.6 steals-per-game.

Since joining Brooklyn, Simmons has not met the bar he has previously set for himself.

Ben has only averaged 5.2 points and 1.1 steals in his first nine games for the Nets.

Jim Jackson explained why Simmons is failing:

“Ben Simmons is an outstanding case study of how fragile the mentality is of a person that plays sports. To me, 75%-80% of the game is mental.”

Jackson continued, stating that it was not like Simmons was incapable of making the shots. He acknowledged the pre-season play and practice shots he saw.

Jim stated:

“He’s in there knocking down free throws in open rec. He’s doing it. But when the lights come on and you don’t see instant success with that first shot goes the work you just put in, rolled out the door. Mentally, he’s not strong enough to fight through that fact. That’s a psychological issue. Forget about basketball.”

Ben Simmons’ playoff fluke in Philadelphia still haunting him

During the 2019-20 playoffs, the Philadelphia 76ers were facing off against the Atlanta Hawks.

In what was a crucial moment for the 76ers, Ben Simmons had the ball under the net and passed up a wide-open dunk that would have made a big difference in the game.

There was 3 minutes and 29 seconds left in the game with the Hawks up by two, with 88 points to the 76ers 86 points.

Ben Simmons was driving the ball and made it past the defender and then decided to pass up a dunk and give the ball away. The basket ended up being missed.

A play that should have tied the game late in the fourth changed Ben Simmons’ career trajectory in a large way.

Since that very play, Simmons has not deployed the same amount of confidence that he once did.

Simmons used to be a consistent pressure on both ends of the floor, in a reliable way. After making that play and arguably costing his team a continued playoff run, Simmons has been giving the ball away in instances where he should be driving to the net.

On top of that, his defensive pressure has dropped as well. In 2021, Simmons finished second to Rudy Gobert for Defensive Player of the Year. Ben has yet to deploy the aggression that almost won him that award.

With such a sudden change in Simmons' playing, Jackson might be correct. This seems to be much more of a psychological issue than it does a physical one.

It’s not like Simmons is incapable of shooting the ball. He just does not believe that he should over other people. And that is an issue.