Nets Coach Jacque Vaughn Unsure of Ben Simmons Role After Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving Exit

• Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn has said it will be challenging to find minutes for Ben Simmons without Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving
• In the Nets game against crosstown rivals New York Knicks, he played just 12:41 minutes as they lost 124-106
• The 26-year-old is having an underwhelming season in Brooklyn and will seemingly need to prove himself

Ben Simmons' role with the Brooklyn Nets is up in the air after playing only 13 minutes from the bench against crosstown rivals, New York Knicks - a game they lost 124-106 at Madison Square Garden.

He had two points, three rebounds, and two assists in his second-lowest total minutes played this season.

Nets coach, Jacque Vaughn said it would be challenging to find a role for him after Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving's departure.

The first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft joined the Nets over a year ago in the trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. He played 16 minutes against the Sixers last weekend, with newly acquired players taking starting spots.

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The Knicks were brilliant all night. Jalen Brunson dropped 40 points, while Josh Hart, playing in his second game for the Knicks, added 27 to leave the team seventh in the Eastern Conference with a 32-27 record.

Vaughn on Simmons's role

According to ESPN, Vaughn stated it will be tough finding minutes for Simmons without the gravity of Durant and Irving, who drew defences away from him.

He admitted there was work to do because of potential line-ups.

"You put another big next to Ben, then you got to figure out what the spacing is around him. Then if you put another playmaker next to him, then you got to figure out what Ben looks like without the basketball. Then if you go small with Ben, then you have to figure out can you rebound enough with him?"

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Toward the end of the first quarter, Simmons drove to the basket, but instead of attempting a layup, he passed the ball to Nix Claxton. That summed up what has been happening with Simmons in Brooklyn.

He has two years left on the five-year, $170-million contract he signed in 2019 with the Sixers. The 26-year-old is averaging 7.2 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists, per AMNY.

Simmons wants his ring back

Sports Brief earlier reported on Simmons sending a legal demand over the $1-mil diamond engagement ring he gave to Love Island presenter, Maya Jama.

The NBA star allegedly popped the question in December 2021, but it led to nothing, as they terminated their romantic relationship in almost exactly a year later.

Jama is reported to have not returned the engagement ring after the two went their separate ways, with the jewellery estimated at $800,000 in worth.