The 2023-24 NBA season has not gone according to plan for anyone on the Brooklyn Nets. After a strong start to the season that led some to believe they would be able to challenge for a playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, the bottom has fallen out.
Brooklyn is now 25-37 on the season, going 12-27 since mid-December when they were three games over the .500 mark. Their struggles have already led to the firing of head coach Jacque Vaughn, as players and people within the organization lost faith he was the right man for the job.
A big reason there was a rift between Vaughn and people within the organization was how he viewed Ben Simmons. During training camp, Vaughn’s entire game plan was built around Simmons as the focal point of the team’s attack.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
It wasn’t something everyone agreed with given Simmons’ inability to stay healthy and on the court. The doubters, unfortunately, have been proven correct again. Simmons played in six out of the first seven games of the 2023-24 NBA season but has been dealing with injury issues since.
Those six games are the most he is going to play consecutively this season, as Simmons is being shut down for the remainder of the season to figure things out with his back. The Nets released a statement sharing the devastating update.
“Ben Simmons will remain out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back. Simmons, along with his representatives and Nets medical personnel, are currently in discussions with numerous experts to determine the course of action that will provide him with the best opportunity for long-term sustainable health,” the update from the team’s official X account read.
NBA NEWS & RUMORS: Ben Simmons & Brooklyn Nets Updates
Simmons, who missed 36 consecutive games earlier in the season, will now end the season missing 25 more consecutive. It is a brutal blow as he was healthy coming into a season for the first time in years, but it didn’t last very long.
His tenure with the team has not gone according to plan, as he just cannot remain healthy enough to stay on the court. Simmons will be on an expiring contract during the 2024-25 season, which makes him an interesting trade chip for Brooklyn in the offseason.
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