Ben Simmons Injury update: Brooklyn Nets rule out 3x All-Star for remainder of 2023 NBA season after back injury
Some big Ben Simmons news emerged Tuesday that the former three-time All-Star is done for the rest of the 2023 NBA season.
Although the Brooklyn Nets are battling to clinch an Eastern Conference playoff spot and avoid the play-in tournament, the team will be without Simmons. According to coach Jacque Vaughn, Simmons is just now beginning a rehab program for his back. He missed six games in the month of February and was out throughout March.
The Brooklyn Nets announced last week that Simmons is dealing with a nerve problem in his back.
The Nets have ruled out Ben Simmons for the remainder of the season. Simmons is beginning a rehab program on his back, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn says.
Ben Simmons’ ongoing physical ailments
This isn’t the first time that Ben Simmons has dealt with injuries since joining the Brooklyn Nets. The three-time All-Star never played after being traded to Brooklyn in February 2022 and eventually underwent offseason back surgery.
Heading into this season, Simmons seemed poised for a big return, however, early on in the season he seemed to struggle finding his rhythm. He fouled out multiple times throughout the opening week of the season, creating more questions regarding his return than he did answers.
Although he managed to show flashes of brilliance at points, injuries continued to hold him back. Throughout the course of this season, Simmons has played in just 42 games, a career low when excluding the two seasons he's missed.
During those 42 games, while averaging 26.3 minutes per game, Simmons averaged career lows in points (6.9 per game), assists (6.1) and rebounds (6.3).
While many believe that a healthy Simmons with the right mindset is a force to be reckoned with, there have been serious doubts about his future. Between lingering back and knee injuries, the question of whether Simmons’ body and mind can hold up enough to play at an elite level seems concerning to some.
Without Simmons, only time will tell whether the Brooklyn Nets are capable of making a postseason push.