The Brooklyn Nets’ point guard Ben Simmons is set for yet another spell on the sidelines. The team announced that Simmons is dealing with a nerve impingement in his back and will be out indefinitely.
Simmons has a history of back injuries, which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 campaign and limited him to just 42 games last season. The 27-year-old player looked on track to bounce back in 2023-24 before the issue resurfaced after the game against the Chicago Bulls in early November.
Simmons, who has now missed four straight games, is averaging 6.5 points and 6.7 assists to go with a career-high 10.8 rebounds this season.
Speaking with reporters earlier this week, Nets’ head coach Jacque Vaughn said he is keeping a positive attitude and hopes Simmons will be cleared to return to action in a week.
“You know, these athletes, they want to play, and they want to contribute. And no athlete wants to be hurt. And this is not something he has asked for, not something that he wants,” said Vaughn. “We were trying at the time to really get our group whole and healthy and form an identity together, and he’s a part of that identity. And Ben has brought an element to our team that is irreplaceable because of the style that he plays with and the things that he helps benefit our team in doing.”
The Nets currently have a winning record, sitting at No.7 in the Eastern Conference. With Simmons out, veteran Spencer Dinwiddie is expected to be the team’s primary ball handler and playmaker while Dennis Smith Jr. might also get a bigger role.
