What happened to Ben Simmons? Looking at his back injury and probable time of return 

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons won't see any action on the floor for the rest of the season as he deals with a serious injury. According to The Athletic's Shams Charania, Simmons is dealing with a nerve impingement in his back, which is why he'll miss the rest of the season.

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Shams Charania

@ShamsCharania

Nets say Ben Simmons now has nerve impingement in his back and will remain out of action while sides determine best course of treatment.

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Nets say Ben Simmons now has nerve impingement in his back and will remain out of action while sides determine best course of treatment.

The Australian forward has not played since Feb. 24 due to this injury. Without Simmons or Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving (who were traded last month), Brooklyn (39-34) has fallen to seventh place in the Eastern Conference.

The three-time All-Star has played only 42 games this season. He's averaging career lows across the board, averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists while shooting 56.6%.

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Grading Ben Simmons' first season as a Net

The 2022-23 NBA season is Ben Simmons' first full season as a member of the Nets and things haven't been good for the floor general. His campaign this season was supposed to be a redemption season to redeem himself as a star in the league, after his embarrassing final performance with the Philadelphia 76ers.

For this season, the Australian forward hasn't lived up to the expectations that the media and fans have set. It's not entirely his fault, but if we're to point fingers as to why his season has been disappointing, Simmons gets most of the blame.

Injuries have held him back from being a solid contributor for Brooklyn. This season alone, the three-time All-Star has dealt with injuries to his knees and back, which have all seriously affected how he performed on the court.

Despite his injuries, Simmons hasn't performed to the standard of being a star when healthy. He's registered his lowest points in his career at 6.9 a game. Additionally, the 2017-18 Rookie of the Year didn't display the same aggressiveness he had back in Philly.

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Obviously, he's lost a ton of confidence in being an impact player for the Nets. Which is why he has been a disappointing player for the team, and even Jacque Vaughn isn't quite sure how to utilize a player like him.

Grade: C+

The 6-foot-10 forward can still turn things around when he's healthy, he just needs to build up his confidence.

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