It has been a long time since we saw Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets on the court in an NBA game. Back issues have been plaguing Simmons for years and they have flared up once again this season.
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has not played in a game since November 6th. After appearing in six out of the first seven games of the 2023-24 season, Simmons has missed 36 games and counting.
This will be the fifth consecutive season that Simmons has missed double-digit games and is trending toward being the third straight he has missed at least 40 contests. His once-promising career has been derailed by several ailments, but back issues have been the most prevalent one.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Ben Simmons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
However, there could be a light at the tunnel for Simmons this season. According to Erik Slater of ClutchPoints, via Legion Hoops on X, formerly Twitter, there are plans for the Nets to send Simmons to the G League so that he can get in some practice reps “in the near future”.
While a definitive timeline of when that could occur hasn’t been provided, it is certainly encouraging that Simmons is seemingly getting closer to partaking in on-court activities. He has been seen working out lightly and doing some work pre-game but has not progressed beyond 3-on-3 with coaches.
Given how long Simmons has been sidelined, it will take some time for him to ramp up his activity and be ready for NBA action once again. Knowing that his activity level will be ramped up soon is certainly a win for him and the Nets.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Ben Simmons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Coming into the 2023-24 NBA regular season, Simmons looked to be healthy without distractions for the first time in years. Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn laid out a clear-cut plan on how he would be used in the lineup, as he was going to be the point guard and lead playmaker.
In his six appearances this season, he did look comfortable. He was averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists in 31.8 minutes per game. With the Nets’ season spiraling down the drain, getting Simmons back on the court in any capacity could be one of their biggest goals for the remainder of the campaign.
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