Since being drafted by the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons has shown a lot of potential but it was not the same in the Brooklyn Nets. The 27-year-old has been more on the sidelines than on the floor because of his injury.
After being recognized as a generational talent, the 27-year-old had demonstrated his value in the Sixers’ colors, leading to his move to the Nets in 2022. However, since then, he has struggled to live up to his reputation and now faces a battle to salvage his NBA career.
What happened to Ben Simmons?
Simmons received a back injury which troubled him from the initial days in the new franchise. In March last year, a herniated disk issue was discovered in his back. The condition seemingly did not show any improvement, as the Australian professional has been ruled out of play since Feb. 26, 2024.
Now, further assessment has revealed that he will be out for the remainder of the campaign. The 3-time NBA All-Star’s teammate, Mikal Bridges, hoping for Simmons to recover soon, said, “I know it’s tough wanting to be out there and working to get back and then being out, so hopefully he’s all right.”
Simmons has played in only 15 games this season and averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in 23.9 minutes per game. He appeared for a total of 57 games averaging 6.7 points, 6.7 rebound and 6 assists for the Nets since being traded in February 2022.
Has Ben Simmons played his final Nets game?
Ben Simmons last played on Feb. 26 against the Memphis Grizzlies for 14 minutes where he managed to score 4 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists before being sidelined because of his injury.
According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, “Nets say Ben Simmons is out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back.”
Nets say Ben Simmons is out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2024
Simmons might have had injury-prone seasons and failed to showcase his usual self in his current team but has been one of the highest-paid players. His $40.3 million contract will expire next season (2024-2025) and he will become a free agent to which the Nets might not interfere. The guard has missed out on a staggering 135 games during his time in Brooklyn, which has not only hurt the Nets on-court but also in the balance books.
Despite hitting a rough patch because of constant injuries, the talented All-Defensive First Team (2022) player will surely have opportunities to bring his career back on track once he fully recovers from his back issue.
