Nets fans have waited awhile to finally see Ben Simmons healthy, both mentally and physically. And though they didn’t see all the work that he put in to get healthy — and will have to keep putting in to stay that way — it’s been a long road.

“I’ve put myself in position. I’ve been working on myself this past year to get back on the floor and play at a high level,” Simmons said this week. “I deserve to take this opportunity to get back on the court, so I’m excited to team up with these guys, these coaches.”

Simmons — acquired at the February trade deadline for former MVP James Harden — missed all of last season due to mental health issues and a herniated disk. He worked with a therapist on his mental health, and the back injury eventually required microdiscectomy surgery in May.

Now finally cleared for action, Simmons has been playing pickup at the Nets’ HSS Training Center for weeks, and with training camp having started on Tuesday, he’s working to build cohesion with his teammates, including Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.