Nets injury update: Coach Jordi Fernandez offers crucial update on availability of 2 key players for pre-season training camp
The 2024-25 season is almost here and Nets coach Jordi Fernandez provided a crucial update on the availability of Ben Simmons and Bojan Bogdanovic during the team's media day.
Fernandez will start Brooklyn's upcoming season as their new coach after Jack Vaughn and Kevin Ollie's tenures with the organization ended.
His comment regarding Ben Simmons' status was shared by The Athletic's Mike Vorkunov on X. The three-time NBA All-Star played 15 games last season for the Nets before he was ruled out for the remainder of the campaign due to a lower back nerve impingement.
"Ben has been very good," Fernandez said. "Had successful surgery. Very good summer. He seems in a very good place. He'll be full to go start camp."
Jodi Fernandez also talked about the availability of Bojan Bogdanovic and commended the impressive work he's put in to get in the proper shape needed. However, he revealed that he is still not in good enough condition to start the upcoming NBA season.
"Successful surgery," Fernandez said. "He's working. He's in a very good place. We see him every day putting in his work. He's not going to be ready to start camp."
Bojan Bogdanovic previously played 29 games for the New York Knicks after being acquired in the Trade Deadline from the Detroit Pistons. He was a pivotal contributor coming off the bench for New York when he suffered a left foot injury in a 97-92 Game 4 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers. He underwent a successful surgery in the offseason.
Nets coach talked about the team heading into a rebuild phase
In an interview with New York Post's Brian Lewis, Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said that he had conversations with team GM Sean Marks about a rebuild roadmap.
"I mean, Sean said it, that I was going through a process," Fernandez said. "We know that we wanted to do something sustainable and we wanted to win and build something very special. There were different avenues to do it, and this was a possible one."
Whenever teams undergo this phase, it usually involves patience, careful planning and some luck to go their way.
Following the hiring of Fernandez, the Brooklyn Nets continued their rebuild process by trading Mikal Bridges to the New York Knicks. The trade package involved Bojan Bogdanovic and five first-round draft picks.
Brooklyn's front office followed up on this move by acquiring their previously sent first-round picks back when they landed 10-time all-star James Harden.
The Nets wanted to get off to a fresh start after the disappointing results of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and James Harden's tenures. Last season, they finished 11th in the Eastern Conference standings.