Credit: Twitter
The Brooklyn Nets are hoping that their biggest off-season addition will be a healthy Ben Simmons, who missed most of last season due to back and nerve issues. The 6'11" guard, has been working out and rehabbing in Miami, where he was recently visited by Nets general manager Sean Marks and the performance staff.
Marks, who spoke with reporters after the Nets' summer league win in Las Vegas said he was impressed by Simmons' progress and attitude, and that he expected him to be ready to play soon.
“Yeah, he’s not doing three-on-three or five-on-five yet,” Marks said when asked for a status update on Simmons. Simmons was ruled out in March for the rest of the season after the nerve impingement was found in his back. He added, “I mean, I was down there (in Brooklyn) two weeks ago with the training staff and saw the progress and happy to report that he’s in great physical shape.”
Marks added that the Nets were not going to rush Simmons back to the court, but rather make sure he can return to his All-Star level of play. Simmons, who is 25 years old, has two years and $78.2 million left on his contract. The young All-Star averaged 14.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.5 assists in his career as Defensive Player of the Year runner-up in 2021.
“Mentally, he seems to be really chomping at the bit to get back out there. So again, you know, we’ve got time this is not something we’re gonna rush him back to play five-on-five in the next couple of weeks or so. But, he’s progressing. He’ll be ready to go,” Marks explained.
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Simmons' health was also one of the reasons why he decided not to join the Australian national team for the FIBA World Cup in August, which Marks said was made in Brooklyn's best interest and Simmons' long-term health.
The Nets traded James Harden for Simmons in February 2022, and he’s only played 42 games for them, none since Feb. 15 due to a bad back. After Simmons had a microdiscectomy for a herniated L-4 disk on May 5, 2022, multiple experts told The Post it would take 18 months for him to fully recover. The Nets are widely considered the favorites to win the NBA title next season, and a healthy Simmons could be the missing piece they need.
