More than a month after trading for Ben Simmons, the Nets still have no idea when he’ll be ready to play, writes Brian Lewis of The New York Post.
Simmons hasn’t participated in a full practice since coming to Brooklyn, and coach Steve Nash told reporters today that he has a long way to go to reach that point. General manager Sean Marks recently expressed hope that Simmons would be ready to practice by the end of this week, but today’s workout passed without any more clarity on the situation.
“He’s not ready for even one-on-one, let alone three-on-three, five-on-five,” Nash said. “So he’s got to get to a place where he can go full speed unopposed, one-on-oh, and then we’ll talk about and hopefully quickly he can go to one-on-one, three-on-three, five-on-five.”
Nash didn’t speculate on how long those steps might take, but Simmons is running short on time with just four weeks left in the regular season. Lewis notes that the Nets’ performance team typically requires players to go through three high-intensity workouts with no physical issues before clearing them to play.
Lewis adds that the March 18 game against Portland or the March 21 contest against Utah once seemed like realistic dates for Simmons to make his debut, but now it’s not certain that he’ll even be practicing by then.
Simmons’ infamous performance in Game 7 of the Hawks series in June is the last time he played in an NBA game. He was involved in a months-long standoff with the Sixers over mental health issues before Brooklyn acquired him in a blockbuster deal at the deadline.
Shortly afterward, Simmons suffered back tightness, which has prevented him from being cleared to practice by the Nets’ performance team.
“Yeah, a little setback, whatever that was,” Nash said. “So now we’re just trying to make sure we get that in the bag before we rush him out there and suffer a longer setback.”
Simmons did some shooting, ball-handling and light cutting during today’s practice session, but Lewis states that he was undergoing treatment from the training staff during the portion of the practice that the media watched.
Simmons had back issues during the 2019/20 season and suffered a nerve impingement in his lower back in February of 2021. He also had a flare-up while he was out of action this year, prompting questions about whether the back might be a long-term concern.
“I don’t want to classify it the wrong way, but he’s had back issues at times. So I don’t want to say he’s got a bad back, I don’t know if that’s fair,” Nash said. “He’s had a flare-up of something, but was really healthy for the last six months until the flare-up. So I don’t want it to be … I’m not sure that it’s fair for me to say he has a back problem. It’s just right now he has a flared-up back.”
They won’t have Simmons in the playoffs and even IF they do, he’ll be a detriment
I’m speculating here, but a coach saying “I’m not sure if it’s fair to say he has a back problem” about a player has rarely ended well.
Just like the start to his NBA career, Simmons will miss a full year’s worth of action before suiting up for his new squad…
in my field ppl get fired after 1 or 2 no call no shows..
this little rat Simmons is going on 82
This guy is such a joke.
Ben Simmons is SO pathetic …
Always some drama here, huh? Well, the money is good…
Sounds like the “back issues” are bs. Trying to justify his not feeling ready to play. Gotta come to the point that it’s starting to become obvious is head isn’t there.
That “infamous game 7” where he dropped like 13 dimes and 10 boards while letting Harris and Embiid go off, Hawks figured out 76ers weakness in Simmons FT, it’s not like he had a shocking game no matter what anyone says hawks just played better than figured them out.
I hope he can get right, he’s a top 5 PG when fit and if he is there for the off him and KD will take them deep from home and with them and Kyrie away from home they’ll go further than Philly. Both will fall to Miami and Bucks though. Just better overall teams.
So what was he doing when he wasn’t playing?? Not like he was injured.
Hanging out with Zion eatin chips.
Deadlifting
I don’t want to despise you Benny, I really don’t. Unfortunately I’m not sure there is one likable thing about you. Maybe if we get Kendall Jenner to sit courtside he’ll be ready to go
I have no idea why anyone wants this guy around
I would hope that he was working on his free throws. If he wasn’t, then that should let everyone know he doesn’t have the mentality of a professional, or that of someone that really wants to win. He won’t see another contract like the one he’s on now until he shows he is willing to put in the work…
Thanks for your input. Thumbs up!
JaMarcus Russell of the NBA
this man may never play a game for the nets. he’s either always hurt or his head isn’t on straight.
Just retire already!
Bigger bust: Simmons or Zion?
Lol..he already made all nba, 1st defensive team, and allstar.this drama is suck, but call him a bust is not a funny joke.
Honestly, this isn’t a surprise. Even if he was in great shape, it’s not game shape, and getting to that point is a process which likely would have interruptions. Even after he gets on the court, it’s likely to be awhile before he’s a significant (positive) contributor.
Dude is the softest athlete in the history of professional sports.
Is he getting paid?
I believe so
Is this the Philly board ……. ????
Why such interés in a guy who hasn’t even played yet. Nets beat Sixers by 30 with Ben cheering. What will they do to them In playoffs if he PLAYS ……
Not even a Bklyn fan. But I’m buying a Ben shirt lol ….
I can’t take myself that far to by a shirt, but yeah a lot of unnecessary hate towards Simmons.
Ben is a liability in the playoffs. The Nets are better off with him riding the bench.
Who cares? Nets are doing fine without him. He’ll be back when he’s back. Until then I will be focused on the games actually happening.
No one talking about AD missing 2 billion games…hmm
Not to pile on, but what in then hell was he doing all this time?
Basketball shape then game shape take time. But I too think it seems too long. I think they don’t want setbacks. So they are going real slow with him.
That’s what frustrates me. There was nothing wrong with his body during the offseason. Why wasn’t he training. I thought he would show up with something to prove. At his age he should be hungry to compete. Instead 35 year old Goran is the guy who stayed in shape to play.
The hoops rumors experts at their best spitting poison. Good for you, hope you feel better.
I know, right?
I can say that never I have seen such a hateful, cold & heartless crowd as in here!
Makes one ashamed of hoops fans!
I hope y’all can find some happiness in your sad existences!
You have to admit. Fifty years from now, every basketball fan will still know the name Ben Simmons. Granted, for all the wrong reasons. But they’ll know the name.
I thought the reports foreeeever was that he was very close to in game shape for whatever team wanted him ?
I figured it was agent and team bs.
But what a load.
I think that in the future, it will come out that he was still having non-physical issues. He’s not being worked in-game slowly. Hell he’s still not in practice shape according to article.
I guess one element of Simmons’ sitting out for this long and the endless speculation regarding his mental health is that there’s been little to no inquiries into his physical health.
At his age if he truly has back issues to this degree—”flare ups” while not even playing in NBA games, then that seems like it might be kind of a big deal?
Would be interesting to know how much Philly knew about his back, and how much in turn they told to Brooklyn prior to the trade.
This guys is gonna do everything in his power to hide until the start of next season.
So soft
He will play for sure this year, but he wants to recover some of those fines from Sixers through arbitration. Thus he needs to keep his act of mental illness for now…
That’s what frustrates me. There was nothing wrong with his body during the offseason. Why wasn’t he training. I thought he would show up with something to prove. At his age he should be hungry to compete. Instead 35 year old Goran is the guy who stayed in shape to play.
Mr. Simmons has apparently changed his name to Turd Ferguson.
He is pathetic what a waste.I think his biggest problem is mental and a overrated talent and wouldn’t want on my team he is a distraction and a waste of a roster spot.