Sixers Rule Ben Simmons Out For Season

The Sixers have formally announced that Ben Simmons won’t play this season. General manager Bryan Colangelo informed reporters today of the club’s decision, per Jake Fischer of SI.com (Twitter link).

A report on Thursday out of Philadelphia had suggested that Simmons’ season was in jeopardy after the result of a CT scan showed disappointing progress. According to Fischer (Twitter link), Colangelo said today that the most recent scan indicated that there’s “not full healing in the bone.” The next scan will occur in one month.

The organization has been very cautious with its No. 1 overall pick since he fractured a bone in his right foot in training camp. The original prognosis suggested Simmons had a chance to return with three months, but his NBA debut will instead be postponed until the 2017/18 season. According to Colangeo, the Sixers “will talk about” having Simmons on their Summer League team, depending on his status (Twitter link via Fischer).

Simmons is the third top pick for the Sixers to sit out his entire rookie season in the last four years. Nerlens Noel missed his entire rookie year in 2013/14 due to a torn ACL, while foot problems sidelined Joel Embiid for his first two NBA seasons. Embiid has also been out of action as of late with a knee problem, though Colangelo – who called the injury a bone bruise – said today that the injury is “progressing well.” Embiid is expected to miss at least the next four games.

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