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Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons has been ruled out for the rest of the NBA season.
On Thursday morning, Shams Charania reported that Simmons would not return due to a nerve impingement in his lower back. Charania also mentioned that the 27-year-old is exploring treatment options for the injury.
Simmons appeared in 15 games for Brooklyn this season, with his last coming in a 111-86 win against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 26.
The LSU alum’s back injury first came to light when he played for the Philadelphia 76ers. Aside from his reported mental struggles, the physical strain caused Simmons to miss the 2021-2022 season.
Last season was not much better as Simmons clocked in for only 42 games with his lingering back issues and knee ailments. The Nets finished sixth in the Eastern Conference before getting swept by the 76ers in the first round.
Ben Simmons has been ruled out for the rest of the NBA season with a nerve impingement
Nets say Ben Simmons is out for the remainder of the season while he consults with specialists and explores treatment options for the nerve impingement in his lower back.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 7, 2024
Simmons averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 ᴀssists before being ruled out this season
Earlier this week, Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, spoke of his injuries and took responsibility for his frequent absence.
‘It is a continuation of the same injury that he has dealt with all year,’ Lee told SNY. ‘We are trying to get clearer answers as to how to get him out of the reactive cycle he’s in. We continue to try and find non-surgical options to allow Ben to move forward on a permanent basis and that is where this is my responsibility and I am [the] one to blame.’
‘When I began working with Ben I made a commitment to him that I would do everything I could to find the right answers and specialists for him to work with [in order] to move forward from the issues he has been having. Clearly, it hasn’t happened and that’s my responsibility.’
Philadelphia selected Simmons with the first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. After a successful career at LSU, Simmons was a promising prospect ahead of entry into the NBA.
Simmons was an All-Star from 2019 through 2021 before his fallout with the 76ers and frustrating tenure with the Nets.
This season, Simmons averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 ᴀssists while shooting 58.1 per cent from the field. The Nets currently sit 11th in the east with a 25-37 record and 20 games left to play.
