Player News

• Nets' Ben Simmons: On track for training camp

  04/24/2024 • By RotoWire

  Nets general manager Sean Marks said Wednesday that "all signs point to" Simmons (back) being available to start next season's training camp, Tim Bontemps of ESPN.com reports. Simmons underwent a successful microscopic partial discectomy in mid-March to alleviate the nerve impingement in his lower back, marking yet another injury-related setback for the 2017 No. 1 overall pick. The 27-year-old has played in only 57 games across the last three seasons, but when available, he has shown he can still be an active defender and excellent playmaker. Simmons has one more year remaining on his current contract, a five-year extension he signed with Philadelphia in 2019.

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• Nets' Ben Simmons: Goes under knife

  03/14/2024 • By RotoWire

  Simmons underwent a successful microscopic partial discectomy Thursday and is expected to make a full recovery for training camp next season, Michael Scotto of USA Today reports. Simmons discectomy will work to alleviate the nerve impingement in his lower back. Removing part of the problematic disc in Simmons' lower spine addresses the root cause of the series of injuries that limited him to just 15 appearances this season. The 27-year-old has suited up for just 57 contests across the last three campaigns, and his body breaking down has been a serious matter over that span. Simmons teases rare two-way play at his size for a ballhandler, but a lengthy rehab and re-strengthening process will now ensue in advance of the 2024-25 campaign -- for which he is owed $40.3 million by Brooklyn in the final year of his contract.

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• Nets' Ben Simmons: Shut down for season

  03/07/2024 • By RotoWire

  The Nets announced Thursday that Simmons will miss the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back. Simmons had previously missed the Nets' final 24 games of the 2022-23 season as well as their first-round playoff series loss to the 76ers with nerve irritation in his back. He was declared healthy heading into the 2023-24 campaign, but after appearing in six of the Nets' first seven contests, he proceeded to miss the next 38 games with a left lower back impingement before he returned to action in late January. Simmons then saw action in nine games over about a month-long period, but he missed time with left leg soreness before the back injury cropped up again earlier this month. With Simmons having not responded to rest and rehab as well as the Nets had hoped, he'll now be shut down for the season while he looks toward a more permanent fix for the problem. Surgery or a procedure of some sort could certainly be in the cards for Simmons, potentially putting his long-term NBA outlook in question. He's now played just 57 games over the last three regular seasons, and he'll be entering the final season of a five-year, $177.24 million contract in 2024-25. Over his 15 appearances for Brooklyn this season, the 27-year-old averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 0.8 steals and 0.6 blocks in 23.9 minutes per game while shooting 58.1 percent from the field, but he didn't put up a three-point attempt and connected on just six of his 15 free-throw tries (40 percent).

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• Nets' Ben Simmons: Another absence coming

  03/06/2024 • By RotoWire

  Simmons (back) is out for Thursday's game versus the Pistons. Simmons' absence streak will extend to six games Thursday due to a left lower back nerve impingement. While there is no timetable for his return, Simmons' next chance to suit up is Saturday's matchup with Charlotte.

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• Nets' Ben Simmons: Remains out Tuesday

  03/05/2024 • By RotoWire

  Simmons (back) has been ruled out for Tuesday's game against the 76ers, Erik Slater of ClutchPoints.com reports. Simmons missed three straight games due to leg soreness and is now slated to miss a second consecutive contest due to a left lower back nerve impingement. A similar issue caused Simmons to miss 10 weeks earlier in the season, but the current one is reportedly less severe, and he's considered day-to-day, though he hasn't undergone an MRI yet, per NBA Insider Ian Begley. Either way, it's another disappointing setback for the oft-injured point guard, who's appeared in just 57 games since the 2020-21 season.

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