Ben Simmons was seemingly primed to make a long-awaited season debut, but his arrival in Brooklyn has been put off once again.
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is listed as out for Game 4, despite optimism and earlier reports that Simmons would make his Nets debut Monday.
Per ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski and The Athletic’s Shams Charania, Simmons was on track to be available for Monday’s Game 4 against the Boston Celtics (7 ET, TNT). Simmons was acquired by the Nets in a midseason blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia, but the former 76ers All-Star has yet to play in a game for his new team.
Nets are listing Ben Simmons as OUT for Game 4 vs. Celtics. A surprise as Simmons had been expected to play Monday as long as rehab was on course.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2022
ESPN story on Ben Simmons reporting back soreness on Sunday, leaving the Nets surprised and disappointed that he won't make his season debut in Game 4: https://t.co/RT3xncXkWA
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 24, 2022
Nets coach Steve Nash addressed reporters before Monday’s Game 4 and said he had no real plans for Simmons to play in the series.
“I wasn’t really expecting him to play … he’s still building himself up,” Nash said. “We’ll see how he progresses and see if there’s an opportunity for him to play at some point in the series.
“His back is his back. We’ve got to work through this.”
Steve Nash on Ben Simmons playing in a possible Game 5:
"I don't know. We'll see how he progresses." pic.twitter.com/7Q24CIAZcq
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) April 25, 2022
Steve Nash says he of course would love to have Ben Simmons on the floor but adds that he isn’t disappointed with Simmons in any way. “His back is his back. We’ve got to work through this.” pic.twitter.com/xuEG9QT8G8
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 25, 2022
According to Wojnarowski, Simmons met with GM Sean Marks and Nets leadership on Monday to discuss the next steps for his return to the floor.
ESPN Sources: Ben Simmons and CEO of Klutch Sports Rich Paul met with GM Sean Marks and Nets leadership today to discuss how they’ll continue to work through the physical and mental hurdles needed to get Simmons back on the court.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2022
The Nets believe Simmons has been addressing both mental and physical areas in recent months, and recognize there’s more work to do. Nets meet Celtics in Game 4 tonight in Brooklyn, trailing series 3-0.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 25, 2022
Since being acquired by the Nets on Feb. 10 in a blockbuster trade that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers, Simmons has been dealing with back soreness. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons hasn’t played since the 76ers fell to the Atlanta Hawks in last season’s Eastern Conference semifinals.
In mid-March, Simmons had an epidural in hopes it would improve his back pain and relieve some of the irritation he has suffered with the injury.
Simmons said he won’t make any predictions about how well he can play after his long layoff, but he insists he wants to try, even with so much rust at such an important time.
“Body-wise, once my body is ready, I want to be able to help this team win. That’s what I’m here for, so I mean, it is what it is,” Simmons said. “I’ve got to get on the floor and help this team win. I’ve been traded to the Brooklyn Nets and that’s what they need me to do.”
Simmons said his basketball IQ can help him fit in with a team he hasn’t even fully practiced with, and the Nets hope his body will allow that. Teammate Patty Mills, a fellow Australian, said it was hard to compare the circumstances of Simmons’ debut with anything else he could recall.
“But I mean, we’ve been through some pretty crazy stuff this year,” Mills said. “I don’t think this is any different to that and it’s one of those things where we’re here and this is what we have, so let’s make the most of it.”
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
