The Brooklyn Nets have been dealt a major blow with the news that star player Ben Simmons will be out for the remainder of the season. Simmons, who was acquired from the Philadelphia 76ers in a blockbuster trade earlier this year, was expected to be a major contributor to the Nets’ success this season.
Simmons suffered a knee injury during a game against the Washington Wizards on April 5th. After an MRI revealed a partial tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee, Simmons was ruled out for the remainder of the season. This is a huge loss for the Nets, as Simmons was expected to be a major contributor to their playoff push.
The injury comes at a particularly bad time for the Nets, as they are currently in the midst of a tight race for the Eastern Conference’s fourth seed. With Simmons out, the team will have to rely heavily on their other stars, such as Kyrie Irving and James Harden, to make up for his absence.
The Nets have already expressed their disappointment over Simmons’ injury, with general manager Sean Marks saying, “We are disappointed for Ben and feel for him as he works through this injury. We know he will attack his rehabilitation with his usual determination and we look forward to his return to the court next season.”
Simmons’ loss is a huge blow to the Nets’ chances of making a deep playoff run this season. However, the team is still well-positioned to make the playoffs and will look to their other stars to step up in Simmons’ absence.