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The Ben Simmons experiment with the Brooklyn Nets is off to a dreadful start, with members of the organization starting to get frustrated with the three-time All-Star.

Per The Athletic's Shams Charania and Sam Amick, frustration around Simmons has "been building in recent weeks" with coaches and teammates "concerned about his availability and level of play, with some questioning his passion for the game."

Simmons was reportedly a key subject during a players-only meeting following the Nets' 125-116 loss to the Indiana Pacers on Oct. 29:

"Sources with direct knowledge of the meeting, but who were granted anonymity so that they could speak freely say that in that meeting, Markieff Morris—a veteran leader on these Nets—spoke up in front of all of his teammates about how they need Simmons to succeed and that he has to respond when he deals with adversity on the court. Those sources all described a meeting where Simmons appeared to take Morris’ words in stride and was responsive and attentive throughout."

Charania and Amick noted Nets team officials and teammates are "in regular contact with Simmons about how to make him comfortable."

Things have been a mess in Brooklyn going back to the offseason, when Kevin Durant wanted to be traded if general manager Sean Marks and head coach Steve Nash weren't fired.

Even though neither one was let go at that time, Nash parted ways with the Nets on Nov. 1 following a 2-5 start this season.

Kyrie Irving is still serving a suspension after promoting a film containing antisemitic tropes and misinformation and refusing to condemn antisemitism in subsequent press conferences. He did issue an apology to all "Jewish families and Communities that are hurt and affected from my post" on Nov. 3.

On the court, Simmons has been one of the biggest disappointments in the NBA thus far. The 26-year-old is only averaging 5.8 points, 6.1 rebounds and 5.6 assists in 26.6 minutes per game. All of those are on pace to be career-low totals for him.

Simmons missed four consecutive games from Oct. 31 to Nov. 5 with left knee soreness. He has come off the bench in each of his past four games since returning to the lineup Nov. 7.

Tuesday's 153-121 loss to the Sacramento Kings marked the first time all season Simmons has scored at least 10 points in a game (11). He's only attempted 17 free throws in 10 appearances.

It was reasonable to expect some level of rust from Simmons to start this season. He missed the entire 2021-22 campaign because of mental health issues and back injuries that required microdiscectomy surgery in May.

The Nets acquired Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers as part of a package for James Harden on Feb. 10. He was expected to add playmaking to their offense and boost their defensive presence.

Instead, the Nets find themselves in last place in the Atlantic Division with a 6-9 record. They rank in the bottom half of the NBA in offensive and defensive rating, per Basketball Reference.

Jalen Brunson scored 25 points to lead the New York Knicks to a 118-111 road win over the Utah Jazz at Vivint Arena on Tuesday night.

Brunson was the main addition during a Knicks offseason that also included heavily rumored trade talks with the Jazz for Donovan Mitchell, who ended up with the Cleveland Cavaliers. He also tallied eight assists, three rebounds and three steals in Tuesday's victory.

"We stuck together for four quarters," Brunson told reporters. "When they made a run, we just looked at each other and said, 'It's time to tighten it up,' and just kept fighting."

Jalen Brunson tonight vs the Jazz:

25 PTS, 3 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL

Knicks got the W on the road. pic.twitter.com/SywnlMffdx

— NBA (@NBA) November 16, 2022

The 26-year-old Villanova product has been the team's most consistent performer during an up-and-down 7-7 start to the 2022-23 NBA season. He's averaged 19.9 points, 6.9 assists, 3.5 rebounds and 1.3 steals while playing in all 14 games.

Here's a look at some social-media reaction to his latest strong showing against Utah, a team he also fared well against during his time with the Dallas Mavericks:

Jalen Brunson still owns the Jazz pic.twitter.com/fmrxN9EPOo

— Brunson Is Better 🍉 Anyone But Cuomo 🙏🏽 (@Runs0nFumes) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson really does not like the Jazz

— Dylan Backer (@DylanBackerESM) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson reminding the jazz he still owns them.

— . (@redpillsblue) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson loves cooking the Jazz. Goodness gracious

— Jake Hatch (Yawk) Utah Hockey Club Aficionado (@JacobCHatch) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson has added his name to the “Jazz Killer” list.

— Jason Shepherd (@jsnshep) November 16, 2022

Busting The Jazz’s Ass Power Rankings:

1. Michael Jordan
2. Vernon Maxwell
3. Jalen Brunson

— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson is the opposite of a stat padder. His 20 point games feel like 40 point games.

Every bucket he scores feels very important.

— NYKTerry (@NykTerry) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson took over the fourth after the Obi/Quickley duo got the team momentum to open the quarter. #Knicks were grinding and got a rare win in Utah.

— Alan Hahn (@alanhahn) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson has been worth every penny the Knicks paid him so far this season

— Board Man Takes (1-1) (@BoardTakes) November 16, 2022

Jalen Brunson is a real deal pg. Big Knicks W.

— Sam Morril (@sammorril) November 16, 2022

Brunson was one of six Knicks players to reach double figures in scoring as part of a well-rounded offensive attack. The others were Cam Reddish (19 points), RJ Barrett (18), Julius Randle (15), Immanuel Quickley (13) and Jericho Sims (11).

"I think we just had more of a sense of urgency," Randle said. "Guys came in prepared today and were ready to go. Got a great win."

Kelly Olynyk paced the Jazz with 27 points and 11 rebounds, marking his first double-double performance of the campaign. Lauri Markkanen chipped in 13 points, six boards and four dimes as Utah dropped to 10-6.

This season's second meeting between the teams won't take place until Feb. 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

The Knicks are right back in action Wednesday night as they continue a five-game road trip with a visit to Ball Arena to take on the Denver Nuggets.

The current iteration of the Brooklyn Nets has been at the center of intense scrutiny and plenty of turmoil, though Ben Simmons is trying to focus on his love for basketball rather than everything else that accompanies life in the NBA.

"I love the game. Do I like all the bulls--t around it? No," he told reporters on Tuesday. "But I love the game and it comes with it. ... It is what it is. I love playing basketball and I love to work. Not every day's gonna be perfect. Everyone has down days; but that's life."

Simmons, in particular, said that he didn't want to let his own adversity—such as the mental health issues and back injury that kept him out of action for all of last season, or his struggles to start the 2022-23 campaign—rob him of the joy of playing.

"It's a roller coaster. You have good days. You have bad days,” he told reporters. "But it's life, too. So you've just got to stick with it."

The 26-year-old Simmons has had a tough return to the court, fouling out of two of his first three games of the season while dealing with a knee injury that's kept him off the court for six games.

His lack of offensive aggression—he's averaging just 5.2 points, 6.2 rebounds, 5.9 assists and just five shots attempts per game—and his inability to space the floor have been issues for the Nets, and interim head coach Jacque Vaughn has opted against starting Simmons with center Nic Claxton, another non-shooter.

"It's tough because he's such a talented player. How do you correct it? That's a psychological issue. Forget about basketball." #Nets

-@JimJackson419 discusses what's gone wrong with Ben Simmons

Jim's full appearance: https://t.co/v07N4Y1XSs pic.twitter.com/SJN0QAXqoU

— Dan Patrick Show (@dpshow) November 15, 2022

Instead, Simmons has been coming off the bench for the Nets, a disappointing outcome for a player who's supposed to be the third star behind Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. That has set Simmons up for criticism from fans and pundits, though he's trying to tune out the external noise.

"Yeah, I don't think you could fully shut it out," he said. "It's one of those things where you take certain things, certain information. But at the same time, I know who I'm going to listen to and talk to. And then on top of that, it's day by day: Everyone's going to have certain expectations of me. Obviously mine are probably higher than everyone else's, which they should be. But I know it's going take time to get back to where I was. And I’m OK with that."

It's less ideal for the Nets, who have started 6-8 amidst Simmons' struggles and yet another Irving controversy. But the power forward is trying to take the adversity in stride.

New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson is sidelined once again, as he will miss Tuesday's game against the Memphis Grizzlies because of a right foot contusion. Head coach Willie Green told reporters that Williamson is considered day-to-day.

The 22-year-old missed two games with a hip injury before returning to the lineup against the Los Angeles Clippers on Oct. 30.

Williamson missed the entire 2021-22 season because of foot surgery and complications during his recovery. It continued the theme of his young NBA career, as he was limited to 24 games as a rookie and played just 61 games in his second year.

When he's healthy, the Duke alum has been a force for the Pelicans. He shot 61.1 percent from the field in 2020-21 and averaged 27.0 points, 7.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists to earn his first selection to the All-Star Game. Through 11 games this season, he's shooting 56.6 percent with averages of 23.5 points, 6.4 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

New Orleans has grown accustomed to his absence, though, and it is more equipped to be successful without him on the floor this season. Veteran shooting guard C.J. McCollum, who was acquired from the Portland Trail Blazers midway through last season, has emerged as the Pels' most dependable player.

With Williamson unavailable, second-year forward Naji Marshall is likely to be inserted into the starting lineup.

SpringHill Entertainment, the production company co-founded by LeBron James and Maverick Carter, is producing a documentary series about hip-hop star Nipsey Hussle.

The Los Angeles Lakers star tweeted out a teaser trailer for the documentary on Tuesday:

It started in Crenshaw, now the marathon continues. 🏁 Stay tuned for #HUSSLEDoc 💙🙏🏾 @makespringhill #LegendsNeverDie👑  pic.twitter.com/wBKZnikDQ8

— LeBron James (@KingJames) November 15, 2022

In a statement released to Dominic Patten and Denise Petski of Deadline, James called it "an incredible honor for SpringHill to have a part in sharing Nipsey’s story and legacy with the world."

"He used his gift to give back to his community and lived what it means to inspire, empower, and uplift others along the way," James added. "His words, his ambition, and his actions stick with me to this day as he continues to inspire myself, our company, and people everywhere."

According to Patten and Petski, the series will chronicle Hussle's life from his time growing up in the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles to his work as a musician and activist.

Hussle was killed at the age of 33 when he was shot in the parking lot of his clothing store in south Los Angeles in March 2019.

Eric R. Holder Jr. was found guilty of first-degree murder in Hussle's death in July. His sentencing has been postponed multiple times. He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison.

A release date for the series has not yet been announced.

New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett was benched during Sunday's loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and reflected on the experience.

"I think it’s time [to sit] when you’re fouling enough," Barrett said, per Mark W. Sanchez of the New York Post. "It falls on me for sure because I was guarding Shai [Gilgeous-Alexander], and he got me into some foul trouble. And that's not good. I got to do a better job of not fouling."

The Duke product finished with four points and four fouls on 2-of-10 shooting from the field in the 145-135 defeat.

Gilgeous-Alexander posted 37 points, eight assists, five rebounds, three steals and two blocks in a dominant performance.

The 22-year-old Barrett has been better than his most recent showing for much of this season and is averaging 18.9 points, 5.4 rebounds and 2.8 assists per game.

He steadily increased his scoring output across his first three NBA seasons after the Knicks selected him with the third pick in the 2019 draft. He averaged 14.3 points as a rookie, and that number was up to 20.0 last year.

Barrett's 2021-22 season came to a slightly premature end when he suffered a knee injury in the team's penultimate game.

The Duke product otherwise has remained mostly durable over his first three years in New York, playing in 198 of a possible 220 games.

Immanuel Quickley would likely see more playing time if Barrett was benched more as the season progresses, but the latter figures to retain a crucial role as the Knicks look to bounce back from missing the playoffs last season.

The Tainan TSG GhostHawks of Taiwan's T1 League are reportedly hoping to sign 10-time All-Star forward Carmelo Anthony.

GhostHawks head coach Liu Meng-chu said the team's ownership group recently signed off on making an offer to Anthony, though it's unclear if he has any interest. Dwight Howard signed with the Taoyuan Leopards in Taiwan earlier this month.

While it's not an NBA job, going to Taiwan could give Anthony a chance to end his career as a superstar.

It took a while for Anthony to find a comfort zone as a role player. He struggled during stints with the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets after leaving the New York Knicks, where he was a go-to offensive option who won the league's 2013 scoring title.

More recent stops with the Portland Trail Blazers and Los Angeles Lakers have yielded more success, showcasing his ability to make an impact without needing 20 shots per night.

Anthony averaged 13.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 2.2 threes across 69 appearances (three starts) for L.A. during the 2021-22 campaign. He tallied a career-low 10.5 field-goal attempts per game but shot 37.5 percent from beyond the arc.

In January, the 38-year-old veteran explained a shift in his mindset about how he could best impact the game made all the difference.

"For me, it's all about coming in and changing the momentum of the game," Anthony told reporters. "Not just with scoring the basketball, but with different energy and effort. That's contagious out there on the court, and that's how I want to play."

Many of the Lakers' additions last offseason didn't live up to expectations, which played a role in the team failing to reach the 2022 playoffs, but Melo was an exception. He filled his spot in the rotation to near perfection.

The New York City native, who began his career as a first-round pick of the Denver Nuggets in 2003, is no longer the high-end contributor he was during his prime, but he's still a valuable role player and one of the most decorated players of the generation.

Anthony's other accolades include six All-NBA selections (two second-team and four third-team), three Olympic gold medals with Team USA, a place on the NBA's 75th Anniversary Team and an NCAA national title from his time at Syracuse.

Anthony would instantly usurp Howard as the most notable player to play professional basketball in Taiwan. That said, he performed well enough last season that he could get an NBA look once a contender suffers a serious injury.

Kyrie Irving's team-issued suspension will continue through at least Tuesday's game against the Sacramento Kings.

ESPN's Nick Friedell reported the Brooklyn Nets said the point guard will miss his seventh consecutive game.

Brooklyn initially suspended him on Nov. 3 because he promoted an antisemitic film on his social media accounts and then failed to disavow antisemitism on multiple occasions in the aftermath.

The Nets also generated a list of things Irving had to accomplish before he could return to the court:

Sources: Nets have delivered Kyrie Irving six items he must complete to return to team:

- Apologize/condemn movie
- $500K donation to anti-hate causes
- Sensitivity training
- Antisemitic training
- Meet with ADL, Jewish leaders
- Meet with Joe Tsai to demonstrate understanding

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) November 6, 2022

It is notable he will not play Tuesday, considering Marc Stein reported "word is Irving is itching to get back on the floor and there have been rumbles for days that the National Basketball Players Association, at some stage, could move to file a grievance on Irving's behalf if the various parties involved can't reach a resolution on a return timetable."

Whether a grievance is eventually filed remains to be seen, but Irving met with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who said the Duke product isn't antisemitic.

Nets governor Joe Tsai also tweeted that "it's clear" the point guard "does not have any beliefs of hate towards Jewish people or any group" after a meeting, adding the two sides will continue "working constructively toward a process of forgiveness, healing and education."

Brooklyn was just 2-6 on the season in eight games with Irving at the time of the suspension.

Since the punishment, the team is 4-2 with him sidelined. While it still remains on the outside of the early Eastern Conference playoff picture at 6-8 overall, it has taken strides on the floor without the seven-time All-Star.

A pair of talented young forwards, Cameron Johnson of the Phoenix Suns and P.J. Washington of the Charlotte Hornets, are set to be restricted free agents next summer after failing to reach agreements on rookie contract extensions. A recent report reveals why negotiations fell apart for both players.

Johnson recently underwent surgery for a torn meniscus and is expected to miss 1-2 months of action. Michael Scotto of HoopsHype reports that at various points before the season started, the Suns discussed a contract extension in the range of $66-72 million over four years.

Scotto noted that Phoenix recently signed star wing defender Mikal Bridges to a four-year, $90 million extension, but "there are executives around the league who don’t believe the Suns want to go anywhere near that range to keep" Johnson.

Prior to his injury, Johnson had posted career-best numbers of 13.0 points per game and 43.1 percent shooting from beyond the arc. He was named the starting power forward for Phoenix by head coach Monty Williams prior to the start of the season.

It should be noted that Utah Jazz guard Collin Sexton, who suffered a season-ending torn meniscus early last year, signed a four-year, $72 million contract extension when he was acquired in a trade with the Cleveland Cavaliers. HoopsHype's Yossi Gozlan wrote that Sexton's deal should be the floor for Johnson.

Scotto reported that Charlotte was interested in signing Washington to a four-year deal worth $50-52 million, but Washington was seeking closer to $20 million annually. Charlotte's offer would have been nearly identical to the deal previously signed by Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr.

It looks like Washington made the right decision to bet on himself, as he's averaging a career-high 14.6 points per game. The 24-year-old was inserted into the Hornets starting lineup in the absence of Miles Bridges, who remains a restricted free agent after pleading no contest to a felony domestic violence charge.

Contract values in the NBA will only continue to rise as the years go on, so there's no doubt that both Johnson and Washington will cash in next summer.

The Boston Celtics apparently didn't go above and beyond to get a new contract finalized with Grant Williams before the Oct. 17 deadline for rookie-scale contract extensions.

HoopsHype's Michael Scotto reported the team "never offered more than $50 million guaranteed over four years." Scotto previously reported in October the 6'6" forward was believed to be wanting a deal paying him $12-14 million annually.

Williams is now due to hit restricted free agency in the offseason. That allows the Celtics to match any offer sheet he signs, but they may not utilize that luxury when the moment arrives.

According to Scotto, Boston might balk if Williams is handed a deal worth $18 million or more from another team.

The 23-year-old is off to a strong start. Through 12 games, he's averaging 9.5 points and 4.8 rebounds while shooting 60.9 percent from the field and 50.0 percent on three-pointers. The Celtics have been 5.8 points per 100 possessions better with him on the court, per NBA.com.

Based on Scotto's reporting, the front office may not view Williams as an irreplaceable member of the rotation. The payroll moving forward is undoubtedly a factor in that calculus.

The Celtics are on track to have $149.5 million committed in 2023-24, per Spotrac, with the salary cap expected to come in at $134 million. Their cap commitment in 2024-25 falls to $111.4 million, but the figure will easily surpass $140 million if they re-sign Jaylen Brown.

Considering Williams might be playing his way into as much as $20 million on his next contract, president of basketball operations Brad Stevens could be facing a dilemma.

Williams is providing great depth in the frontcourt, and he's an ideal complementary piece for a roster built around Brown and Jayson Tatum. But the money that's required to keep him around might be better spent elsewhere when Stevens is looking at the bigger picture.