Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons is out for the rest of the season as a result of a again harm, head coach Jacque Vaughn introduced Tuesday following the workforce’s apply. “Ben won’t be becoming a member of us the remainder of the 12 months,” Vaughn stated.
Simmons has not performed since Feb. 15 towards the Miami Heat within the Nets’ final sport earlier than the All-Star break. Though he had been coping with knee soreness as properly, his again grew to become the larger situation. During a current re-evaluation, imaging revealed that Simmons is coping with a nerve impingement that may require a long-term relaxation and rehabilitation program.
This isn’t the primary time that Simmons has handled a again harm since arriving in Brooklyn. He didn’t play for the workforce final season following the blockbuster commerce that introduced him to the Nets and despatched James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers due to a herniated disc that later required surgical procedure.
He was absolutely recovered and prepared for opening night time of this season, although, and there have been excessive hopes for him and the Nets regardless of the offseason drama involving Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Nothing went to plan. Durant and Irving had been each traded in spite of everything, and Simmons, who was unable to remain wholesome or work out his function, is now accomplished for the season.
Over 42 video games, 33 of which got here as a starter, Simmons averaged 6.9 factors, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists on 56.6 p.c from the sphere. Aside from an encouraging stretch in November, Simmons’ first full season with the Nets was a significant disappointment finest summed up by a quote Vaughn gave following the Nets’ loss to the New York Knicks on Feb. 13. Simmons solely performed 12 minutes and 41 seconds in that sport, which turned out to be his second-last earlier than being shut down for good.
“It’s going to be some work that now we have to do,” Vaughn stated. “Because you simply check out what the lineups might doubtlessly appear to be. You put one other massive subsequent to Ben, then you definitely acquired to determine what the spacing is round him. Then, if you happen to put one other playmaker subsequent to him, then you definitely acquired to determine what Ben seems like with out the basketball. Then if you happen to go small with Ben, then it’s important to work out are you able to rebound sufficient with him?
“So the challenges are forward of us. We’ll look them head on. We’ll determine it out. We have the personnel to determine it out. Whether it’s me mixing and matching all through totally different items of the sport, and permitting him to have a bunch and run with a bunch, that half we’ll work out, however you see the challenges that lie forward.”
The downside for the Nets, and Simmons, is these dilemmas will all nonetheless be there subsequent season even when he’s wholesome.
