Carmelo Anthony encouraged by Ben Simmons comeback: 'We want to see you playing'

Ben Simmons' tenure with the Brooklyn Nets has been tumultuous, to say the least, with the Aussie limited to just 15 games last season due to a back injury.

After undergoing a "microscopic partial discectomy surgery" in March , Simmons' comeback season appears to be ahead of schedule, as the Aussie is playing 5-on-5 ahead of training camp, according to Nets Daily .

"He's been playing five-on-five for several weeks. It's not just that he's been cleared for five-on-five. He's been playing five-on-five... If you look last year, that was not the case. He's more advanced now than he was then."

MORE: Ben Simmons' trainer teases 'big season' for Nets guard

The optimism surrounding Simmons' return was only amplified by star basketball trainer Chris Brickley, who has been working with the three-time All-Star at his LifeTime gym in New York.

“Ben is healthy, moving very well, he is better now than his All-Star seasons," Brickley wrote on X, formerly Twitter .

"I’ve never co-signed a player that didn’t prove it when their season started. Trust me on this one.”

Brickley, who has worked with some of the biggest names in the NBA, including Russell Westbrook, Jimmy Butler, LeBron James, and Carmelo Anthony, while putting on star-studded offseason runs in New York, emphasized his confidence in Simmons' return. With his former trainer in the mix, Anthony is confident Simmons can get back to his best.

Carmelo Anthony wants to see Ben Simmons back at 100 percent

Anthony worked closely with Brickley during his time with the New York Knicks. Brickley, who served as a player development coordinator in New York before branching out on his own to become a premiere basketball trainer, was encouraged by the positivity coming out of those workouts.

With Simmons in the final year of his five-year max contract, 2024-25 looms as a big season for the Aussie, and Anthony is keen to see him back to his best.

"We need him to come back," Anthony told The Sporting News during his appearance at Foot Locker QV in Melbourne

"We want to see him, we want to support him. We don't want to see you on the sidelines, we want to see you playing.

"We want to see you working, we know you're talent, we know your skillset and now it's time to focus on your body and get back out there."

Knicks primed for Eastern Conference challenge

Meanwhile, across town, Anthony's former team in New York had a busy offseason, trading for Mikal Bridges and re-signing OG Anunoby as it looks to improve on its 50-win season in 2023-24.

MORE: Ranking the Knicks' eight most important players this season

In a competitive Eastern Conference, the Knicks are well positioned to take the fight to the reigning champion Celtics — as well as fellow contenders, the 76ers and Bucks — and Anthony is confident Madison Square Garden will be rocking this season.

"We should be right there, man. This is a good year for us," Anthony added. "I would say this is a good year for the Knicks.

"I don't like to say 1, 2, or 3 [seed]. I don't like to do that, but I would say we're going to be ready for this year."