Why is ben simmons not playing for the nets

Nick FriedellESPN Staff WriterApr 4, 20223 Minute Read

NEW YORK -- Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons will not be making his season debut in the regular season as he continues to deal with a herniated disk issue in his back, Nets coach Steve Nash said after Monday's practice. Nash added that while he remains hopeful that Simmons will return at some point in the playoffs, he would be "shocked" if Simmons played in the Nets' play-in game next week.

"He's not running, so yeah," Nash said. "I don't see him [being ready]. I would be shocked."

After requesting a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers last summer, citing mental health concerns, Simmons was finally dealt to the Nets just before the trade deadline in February but has not been able to play because of ongoing issues with his back. Nash said that Simmons actually made progress Monday by being able to shoot and starting to do some work with resistance bands, but the organization still has no idea when, or if, Simmons might be able to play this season.

"I mean that's a big progression just to get here," Nash said. "So he was doing nothing on the floor. But obviously he clearly started strengthening and doing some light shooting. So super positive on one hand; on the other hand, it's not like ... we're expecting him in the lineup in the next week."

Nash said recently that he wouldn't have a problem with Simmons making his debut in a playoff game even if he hadn't played all year. He also made it clear Monday that the Nets would take every precaution before putting him back on the floor.

"If he had played 65 games, this year and we're going into the playoffs, and he had a few weeks' injury, maybe [you'd think about rushing the normal progression]," Nash said. "But, I think in this situation, we got to put his health and safety first and make sure that we're certain he's ready to play and contribute. And the other part is he hasn't played basketball, so you don't know what kind of Ben you get. And he hasn't been in an NBA game for, you know, nine to 10 months."

Simmons' teammates and coaches have repeatedly said he remains in good spirits in his new surroundings, but they just don't know when he'll be able to return to the floor. The Nets currently sit in 10th place in the Eastern Conference with a 40-38 record. Nash demurred when asked how realistic it would be to think Simmons could come back and play in the first round if the Nets were able to advance that far.

"We'll see," Nash said. "I don't want to get too far down the road, like, I don't want to walk through the next five weeks with you guys and guessing -- you guys saw where he is today. He's doing some increased strengthening, some increased mobility stuff, a little bit of shooting and that's it."

As far as the rest of the Nets' injuries, Bruce Brown went through Monday's practice and is expected to play Tuesday against the Houston Rockets after missing Saturday's loss to the Atlanta Hawks because of a non-COVID illness. Guard Goran Dragic (health and safety protocols) remains in Atlanta, and it is unclear when he'll be able to return.

Nash also admitted that the Nets have discussed the possibility of shutting down guard Seth Curry for the last four games of the regular season as he continues to deal with left ankle soreness.

"That's the position we're in, is do we try to sit him?" Nash said. "Does him sitting for a week help? Or is he right back in the same boat anyway? And how important is it for us to try to creep up into the seven, eight spot? So we're weighing all those things and it's kind of more daily than it is making a decision."

Nick FriedellESPN Staff WriterApr 20, 20222 Minute Read

BOSTON -- Brooklyn Nets swingman Ben Simmons continues "progressing and moving forward" in his rehab from a herniated disk in his back, but it'll be up to the former All-Star whether he plays in the first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics, coach Steve Nash said.

Nash remained noncommittal on a timeline for any potential return for Simmons. The Nets trail 1-0 entering Game 2 of the Eastern Conference first-round series on Wednesday night.

"There's no other way than him to say, 'I'm ready,'" Nash said after Wednesday's shootaround. "Especially after an absence this long. So whenever he is ready, it's going to have to be on him to say, 'I feel comfortable. I feel ready to go. I want to play and I want to contribute.'

"We can't push him places when you have been out this long. It's got to be something where he is definitely comfortable and ready to play."

Simmons has not played for the Nets since being acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers just before February's trade deadline, and he has not played in an NBA game since last May after requesting a trade from the Sixers, citing mental health concerns. He was cleared for contact Monday and has been getting in some 4-on-4 work with teammates.

Nash said he would get another workout in before Wednesday's game.

"He's coming along pretty good," Nets center Nic Claxton said of Simmons. "He definitely has a real good swagger about himself right now. So I think the whole world is ready to see him back out there, and he will definitely help us out in a lot of ways."

Nash said that while Simmons needs to feel comfortable enough to play, the training staff also needs to see enough to feel comfortable for him to start competing in games again.

"I think it's more of a collective decision," Nash said. "I think they understand that it's bigger than just a linear equation. This has been a prolonged absence. So I think it's more, they're in this together, trying to find a resolution and a time frame to come back where he is safe to play and well enough to contribute."

In the short term, the Nets remain hopeful that he continues to pick up as much as he can on and off the floor through workouts and film sessions.

"If he's able to play at some point, having him kind of become as familiar as possible with what we're doing, because those things change day to day," Nash said. "You're making adjustments -- and so having him be involved in all that stuff, so if he is able to play at some point, he's comfortable."

The day has finally come for Ben Simmons to make his return to Philadelphia as a member of the Brooklyn Nets, but the All-Star guard will not be taking the floor.

Since being traded from the 76ers to the Nets on Feb. 10, Simmons has yet to suit up for his new team due to "return to competition reconditioning and back soreness."

Simmons hasn't made his 2021-22 season debut and has missed 11 games since becoming a member of the Nets. Brooklyn is fighting to stay in the playoff picture, currently sitting in at 33-33, good for eighth in the East.

Simmons has already been ruled out for Thursday's contest against his former team, but why? And when will he make his debut for his new team?

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Why isn't Ben Simmons playing in return to Philadelphia?

Per the Nets' submission to the NBA's official injury report on Wednesday, Simmons is listed as "out" against his former team due to "return to competition reconditioning and back soreness."

On the March 6 edition of "NBA Countdown," ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported Simmons is expected to be out for this entire week, including there that there was "no chance" Simmons would play in his return to Philadelphia on March 10.

"After Thursday's game in Philly, Simmons, at that point, will be ready to start getting on the floor with his teammates and increasing his workload, getting closer to returning," Wojnarowski said.

"That back problem has been an issue for him since he's tried to started ramping up. He's essentially really just done individual work at their facility. They're hoping by the end of this week, he'll be able to do more."

However, even though he is not playing, Simmons is expected to be on the bench for the contest, ready to hear it from the Philadelphia fanbase.

Prior to the highly-anticipated return, superstar forward Kevin Durant had some advice to offer to his teammate.

"That’s one of those things he’s gonna have to experience for himself," Durant said. "I can’t go over there, nobody’s gonna hold his hand, I’m sure it’s gonna be personal attacks, there’s gonna be some words that may trigger you, personally, but that’s just how fans are.

"... Ben understands that and sure some stuff may be funny – you know, you don't know. But at the end of the day, we realize that life is amazing, we play the game of basketball for a living, and a little bit of trash talk is what it is."

Head coach Steve Nash also mentioned that Simmons wanted to be on the sidelines for this one.

"It is what it is. He's a big boy. He'll be fine," Nash said on Tuesday about Simmons' return. "He wants to be there on the bench with his teammates."

When will Ben Simmons make his Nets debut?

Once Simmons gets his return to Philadelphia out of the way, he is expected "to increase his workload and get closer to making a return," per Wojnarowski, as mentioned in the section above.

Simmons is expected to be out for the remainder of this week – meaning he won't be available for Sunday's game against the Knicks either – which will only leave 14 games on the schedule for him to make his return before the postseason.

You can find their full remaining schedule below.