Ben Simmons’ 2022-23 season has officially ended.
The 26-year-old won’t play again for the Nets this season, head coach Jacque Vaughn said on Wednesday (AEDT).
Simmons will start a rehab program for his ailing back.
Doctors haven’t recommended surgery and a procedure is “not in sight,” according to Vaughn.
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Simmons appeared in just 42 games, all this season, since arriving from the 76ers in a trade last season and has averaged 6.9 points and 26.3 minutes per game, with all three numbers serving as career-lows. Simmons was on the books for nearly $35.5 million this season, and he has two years remaining on a five-year, $177 million contract. The news triggered another round of jokes about the Nets’ return on their investment in Simmons. When Simmons started his strengthening program in late February, shortly after the Nets returned from their All-Star break, Vaughn said the goal was to get him back on the court. During what Vaughn labelled a “reassessment” phase, though, the nerve impingement was revealed. That led to Simmons visiting with specialists — which then snowballed into the latest development. Despite the latest setback, Vaughn said the Nets’ aim is still “to be involved” with Simmons, who was once a rising star with the 76ers. “I want to coach Ben and I want to be able to push Ben to get back to all-defensive team and impact our team on both ends of the floor,” Vaughn said. “So that’s definitely the goal going forward.” This article was originally published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission
