Ben Simmons finds himself back on the injury report, this time listed as day-to-day due to a recurring nerve impingement in his back, a condition that sidelined him for over 10 weeks earlier this season. Despite initially playing six games at the start of the season, Simmons returned in late January only to play nine games before facing another setback. Since his trade to Brooklyn in 2022, Simmons has participated in just 57 out of a possible 178 games.
Aside from Simmons’ well-documented mental struggles, his physical health has been a consistent issue over the past couple of seasons. A holdout with the 76ers, coupled with ongoing back problems, resulted in him missing the entire 2021-22 season. Last season, he was limited to 42 games due to back and knee issues.
In the current season, Simmons has managed to play in only 15 games while earning a significant salary of $38 million, with projections for over $40 million next year, marking the end of his five-year, $170 million extension signed in 2019, which is widely regarded as having one of the poorest returns on investment, akin to Chandler Parsons’ contract.
Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, shoulders the blame for his client’s persistent back injuries, despite efforts to address them without resorting to surgery. Lee acknowledges his responsibility in finding solutions, expressing commitment to securing the right specialists and remedies. Plans are in place for the offseason to implement new strategies aimed at facilitating Simmons’ recovery and allowing him to return to peak performance levels.
While Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie remains optimistic about Simmons’ return, Lee’s comments hint at the possibility of another prolonged absence, raising concerns about the remainder of the season. The preemptive focus on offseason strategies to address Simmons’ ongoing issues underscores the severity of the situation.
Lee understands the criticism Simmons has faced for his extended absences and aims to shield his client’s reputation from further damage. With Simmons potentially facing a new contract negotiation in two summers, Lee’s actions may be interpreted as proactive measures to safeguard Simmons’ future prospects. Nonetheless, the reality remains that Simmons is once again sidelined by the same lingering back problem that has plagued him for the majority of the past two seasons.