Ben Simmons’ debut for the Brooklyn Nets may not come this year despite coach Steve Nash’s comment that he has “extremely high hopes that we’ll see him in the regular season.”
The 25-year-old All-Star hasn’t played since June 20 last year and according to reports it’s unclear whether the Australian will be fit enough to make a return from a back injury.
The back problem hanging over Simmons has gained more attention as the season draws to a close, with the Nets having just 14 regular season games left.
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Simmons was acquired at the trade deadline last month from the Philadelphia 76ers for James Harden, but he still hasn’t been cleared by medical staff to practice.
At first the Nets thought Simmons’ back issues stemmed from not playing all season however the injury has become more serious in recent weeks. Simmons hasn’t been able to do anything outside of some individual work.
“He’s just doing his rehab, strengthening,” Nash said. “We’re still doing that side of things rather than court work right now.
“The biggest thing we’ve tried to do is to have him be involved in everything. The travelling is the one caveat where sometimes you’re weighing the cost-benefit of him on airplanes and buses and different beds.
“When he’s with us we want him in every meeting, in every walkthrough, in every film session, whatever it may be so he’s around the group. We’d love for him to travel, be with the team all the time, but we have to weigh that scenario as well.”
Nash said Simmons won’t travel to Orlando with the team. While he has been involved in team meetings, Nash admitted the longer the Australian is out, the more likely he’ll have to “learn on the fly” once he comes back.
“I think he has a pretty good understanding,” Nash said. “Now, has his focus been on learning what we’re doing? No, it’s been on getting better. We’ve had him around, we want him to learn, but there’s a lot going on when you’re desperately trying to fight to get on the court.
“I don’t expect him to be totally dialled in on what we’re doing because part of that is also feel; getting out there with your teammates, seeing how it fits. I think he’ll be a perfect fit for our guys. But some of that stuff is also getting out there and doing it, learning on the fly, rather than reading it off the notes.”
Speaking to the New York Post, former Orlando Magic team doctor Dr. Rahul Shah, a board certified orthopaedic spine and neck surgeon, said he’s doubtful Simmons will return this season.
“I don’t think that’s happening. I think the odds are against it. Think about it this way: The longer he’s been out, the longer he’s likely to stay out. Until you fundamentally change the underlying problem,” he said.
“I don’t think he’s coming back [this season]. I don’t think that you have anything to say that he will convincingly. He’s got to do the running and the sprinting before he can do one-on-one or five-on-five.”
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