The Brooklyn Nets have poured cold water on Ben Simmons‘ potential return against the Boston Celtics in round one of the NBA playoffs, despite a report claiming the Aussie will make his much anticipated debut for the team.
ESPN reported the Nets and the 6-foot-11 former No.1 pick were eyeing a return as early as game four of the best-of-seven series against the Celtics.
It’s understood Simmons hasn’t played five-on-five yet but the report stated the Aussie was expected to by the end of the week.
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However, just a day after the report surfaced, Brooklyn star Durant and coach Nash played down the Australian’s chances of playing his first game in nearly a year.
“No, I’m not expecting him to play,” Durant said after practice this morning (AEST).
“That’s easier for me. I’m not putting any pressure on Ben to come out and hoop. I’m not expecting him to do anything except get his body right and get healthy as fast as he can. I’m preparing as if we’re playing with the team we have.”
Nash said Simmons is still doing individual work as he recovers from a herniated L-4 disk in his back that required an epidural shot on March 15.
“Internally, we’re not sitting here saying Ben’s returning in this series. We’ll see what happens,” the coach said.
“It’s up to Ben. It’s not up to me or any of us. There’s a chance Ben comes back, there’s a chance he doesn’t come back.
“For us, we got to focus on the group, support Ben in his journey to get back on the floor, but at the same time we don’t have time to lose focus on the group that’s playing.
“Ben’s a franchise cornerstone, but right now it’s about supporting him physically and mentally to get back on the floor, and coaching this group to put its best foot forward in the first few games of the series at least.”
The No.1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons hasn’t played in a game since the 76ers were eliminated from the postseason last June. His inclusion in the Nets team since the trade with James Harden has been bubbling with Brooklyn struggling the second half of the season.
Nash understands the importance of having Simmons in the team and the pressure he’ll take off the likes of Durant in defence, while taking a load of the point-guard duties, giving the team another point in attack.
The Brooklyn coach said when the team’s medical staff gives the Aussie the green light, he won’t hesitate to throw him into the line-up.
“He’s a super talented player,” Nash said. “I think we’d have to give [it] a chance if he was healthy enough to play.”
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