The ups and downs of life are more common than we imagine.
Ben Simmons, labeled as a "genius" player, seems to be experiencing a long-awaited "highlight moment."
But is his reversal truly convincing? Or can his outburst bear the weight of those heavy expectations and doubts? The answer may not be simple.
Never has a high-paying contract like Simmons' caused so much anger among countless fans.
A staggering $177 million over 5 years, yet it brought about disappointing game after game.
He once played on thin ice, as if carrying an invisible mountain that almost made him breathless.
He dared not shoot or attack, lowering people's expectations of the "No. 1 pick" and even making them question whether the extravagant praise was genuine or just excessive hype.
Once considered a candidate to succeed LeBron James, people now prefer to call him a "fragile heart" stereotype.
But the irony of fate lies in its love for dramatic twists.
The Brooklyn Nets management has been looking for opportunities to "deal with" the burden of this big contract.
Unfortunately, there is almost zero interest in Simmons in the market.
Even if a team wants to take advantage, they are unwilling to take on a player with a consistently poor performance and a huge contract burden.
And what about a buyout? That would be akin to cutting off one's own arm, and the Nets management clearly does not have such courage.
But who could have thought that in a lineup adjustment this season, Simmons seized the opportunity and actually played with a hint of "deliciousness."
Statistics don't lie.
An average of 10.3 points, 8.5 assists, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per game, although still some distance from All-Star level performance, it is already enough to surprise people.
More importantly, his attitude on the court, the confidence he exudes, and his commitment to the game all show a completely different side from the past.
This is not a performance of just padding stats but a heartfelt change.
Perhaps at some point, he himself realized how much he had let down everyone's expectations.
Simmons' transformation is inseparable from the Nets management's "unintentional planting."
At the beginning of this season, the Nets' goal was clear - to tank and prepare for the future.
Unexpectedly, the team's chemistry turned out to be much better than expected, putting the tanking plan on hold and instead aiming for the playoffs.
And all of this gave Simmons a rare opportunity.
The departure of the starting point guard put him back in the spotlight.
This once-disliked "burden" actually stepped up in a critical moment.
But the question remains: Does such a performance mean that Simmons has truly "proved his worth"? Obviously not.
Fans' emotions are complex, from disappointment to anger, and then reigniting hope. This psychological gap and the rekindled expectation are often heavier than the pressure on Simmons himself.
He is no longer the teenage prodigy who first entered the league, nor the "future core" that was pinned with high hopes.
Now, what he needs to face first is how to maintain stability throughout the long season, rather than being a fleeting moment.
On the other hand, Simmons' outburst is more of a touchstone for the Nets.
If he can continue such performances, the Nets management can completely reassess his value, whether it's continuing to keep him or finding a suitable buyer in the trade market. This will be a good situation.
For a team in rebuilding, Simmons' recovery at least provides them with more choices, rather than being at a loss like before.
Looking back at Simmons' career, it is full of contradictions and struggles.
Gifted, he has never been able to turn potential into true dominance; once seen as a representative of the new generation of superstars, he was mercilessly pushed off the pedestal due to psychological issues and technical shortcomings.
For many players, such experiences are enough to destroy a career, but Simmons chose to persevere.
He did not ask for a buyout as expected by the outside world, nor did he give up on his self-requirements.
In a sense, this resilience is the most commendable aspect of him.
Simmons' story is as charming as the entire NBA league.
Here, no one can stay at the peak forever, nor is anyone destined to fall.
The league itself is a grand drama, where every game, every trade, and every rise or fall of a player are indispensable parts of this play.
And Simmons' reversal is one of the most exciting scenes in this grand drama.
The future path still needs to be walked by himself.
If he can sustain such performances, then this top salary contract criticized by many may really have a chance to prove its value.
And for the Nets, this once "hot potato" could become the key to their resurgence.
Regardless, such a Simmons at least gives us hope.
Hope that he can shake off the shadows of the past, hope that he can truly become the player that was hoped for.
More importantly, hope that his story can tell us a truth: No matter what the past was like, as long as you are willing to change, everything is still possible.