The Brooklyn Nets’ update on Ben Simmons on Saturday night turned out to be, well, more of the same
Ben Simmons last played against the Milwaukee Bucks on November 6th, where he played 33 minutes, posting a wonky 2/15/4 stat line. Simmons was then ruled out for a November 8th tilt against the Los Angeles Clippers with left hip soreness, which then became a left hip contusion, which was ultimately reveled to be an impingement in his lower left back, keeping him out of action for the rest of November.
On Saturday evening, prior to Brooklyn’s 12th straight game without Simmons, the Nets released a medical update on their enigmatic point-forward. The update makes it clear a return is not imminent:
Head Coach Jacque Vaughn addressed the news in his press availability Saturday, and made it clear that while Nets fans won’t see Simmons in action just yet, all is going according to plan: “The epidural happened during the course of this week here. It was just a part of his getting back to playing, and that is a part of his treatment, a part of his strengthening. That was just a part of his getting back to the position of joining us. No setbacks.”
Vaughn did not elaborae on what “gradually increasing basketball activity” entails, but it sounds like Simmons is a ways away from 5-on-5 action, much less putting on the uniform again: “Right now, [Simmons] is still doing low level stuff on the court. So, no rebounding drills and no sprinting up the floor. And then in two weeks — he’ll continue to strengthen — and we’ll have something hopefully for you then.”
As such, Saturday’s Simmons update was like many that have come before it. Brooklyn’s $40 million man is doing well, relatively speaking. He’s progressing as the medical team expects, and the Nets and their fans alike will continue the waiting game they’ve undoubtedly become accustomed to.
But will Ben Simmons be putting on a Nets jersey and lacing them up anytime soon? That’s a different story.