76ers Rival Nets Reveal Ben Simmons' Updated Injury Timeline
The Brooklyn Nets remain in a tough spot when it comes to their starting point guard, Ben Simmons.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Simmons’ most recent setback will require more time to recover.
Simmons’ setback popped up in early November. He was diagnosed with a familiar injury, a back impingement, which required several weeks of treatment and an epidural injection.
While it seemed Simmons was on pace to return sooner than later, his recent evaluation revealed that the former No. 1 overall pick will be out for at least another two weeks. At this point in the season, Simmons already missed 20 games for the Nets.
The Philadelphia 76ers dealt with a similar situation with Simmons when he was with the team in 2020. Prior to the NBA’s COVID-19 shutdown, Simmons suffered a back impingement, which took him off the court for several weeks.
Aside from when Simmons missed his entire debut season due to a foot injury, the three-time All-Star has had a relatively healthy run with the 76ers, appearing in 275 games across four seasons. Following the 2021 NBA Playoffs, Simmons demanded a trade and never suited up for Philly again.
Although missing the entire 2021-2022 season wasn’t in the plans for Simmons, a sudden back injury after the trade to Brooklyn forced him to put his Nets debut on hold until 2022-2023. Last season, Simmons played in 42 games for the Nets. He averaged career lows across the board with seven points, six rebounds, and six assists.
Once again, Simmons was sidelined with an injury during the regular season, which forced him to miss the rest of the year. This year, Simmons hoped to be back on the right track and producing just as he did as a member of the 76ers. In his first six games, he put up seven points, 11 rebounds, and seven assists per game. Before he could establish a rhythm, an injury set him back.
The Sixers’ Atlantic Division rivals have struggled to make an impact on the Eastern Conference this year. Starting the season off 13-14, they sit ninth in the conference and are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. While they are hopeful Simmons can still make an impact on their squad after making a deal for him in 2021, the former 76er’s time with the Nets hasn’t gone as expected for either party.
