Ben Simmons’ improved shooting videos spark fresh optimism in NBA comeback effort

Ben Simmons is once again trying to turn private work into a public argument, and this time the centerpiece is shooting. New clips circulating from his recent training with the Australian men’s national team show Simmons working through jump-shot reps and form-focused routines, a contrast to the way his offensive game has been discussed in the years since major injuries disrupted his NBA participation.

Simmons, now 30, has framed this period as part of a larger return plan. According to the report, he has been kept away from the league by injuries and has not appeared the way he once did. The current effort is not simply about being ready for an NBA opportunity in the abstract, it is tied to a specific milestone, the 2028 Olympic roster conversation with Australia.

That Olympic pathway matters because it forces the comeback to be measured in a recognizable way. For basketball players, Olympic selection typically rewards a blend of readiness, consistency, and team fit, not just occasional flashes. Training alongside the Australian program in the offseason can also provide structure that standalone workouts often cannot, especially when a player is trying to re-establish shooting timing and confidence.

The way Simmons’ shooting has appeared in the videos is why the clips are moving quickly. For a player who began his career as a two-way guard/forward and quickly became known for elite passing and athletic finishing, jump shooting has been the most enduring question throughout his later years. The report characterizes these shooting displays as a sign that the current improvements are not a one-off moment, but instead the type of ongoing process that can eventually translate to games.

Still, it is worth separating off-court evidence from game outcomes. A training clip can show mechanics and intent, but it cannot fully answer whether the release is stable under defensive pressure, whether his shot selection will be different in live NBA minutes, or whether the same improvements survive the physical load of a long season. The NBA comeback tradition may be familiar for Simmons, but the league is not built for certainty, it is built for verification.

For Australia, the immediate story is that Simmons is treating national-team preparation as a high-priority commitment. If he continues to build shooting reliability in that environment, it gives the program a possible high-impact perimeter creator and rebounder option. For Simmons’ future, the key question is whether this offseason work can become repeatable enough that NBA interest, if it materializes, is grounded in production rather than potential.

What to watch next is whether more sessions translate into clearer public benchmarks, such as competitive exhibition performances with Australia and any later reports about his readiness to pursue NBA opportunities. In the meantime, the videos are functioning as the first step of a comeback pitch, the part where Simmons tries to convince people the shooting is real. The harder part will come when the shots need to fall against real scouting and real pressure, not just in workout footage.