According to the Associated Press on Tuesday, Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons of Melbourne, Australia will miss the remainder of the 2022-23 National Basketball Association regular season with a back injury. Simmons, who was the first overall draft pick in the 2016 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, has not played since February 15, when the Nets beat the Miami Heat 116-105.
Simmons was traded from the 76ers to the Nets on February 10, 2022 in a blockbuster deal that saw James Harden go from Brooklyn to Philadelphia. Interestingly, he did not play any games last season with the Nets either because of a back problem. This was the second time in Simmons’s NBA career he did not play a full season. In Simmons’s rookie season in 2016-17, he did not play due to a foot ailment. When Simmons did join the 76ers roster, he was an All-Star for three consecutive years from 2019 to 2021.
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This season, Simmons has been extremely ineffective. He was averaging only a career low 6.9 points per game, and did not reach double digits in points in 29 of the 42 games he played. In addition to having a back problem, Simmons also had problems with his knee.
The Nets meanwhile are in sixth place in the Western Conference with a record of 40 wins and 35 losses. They are also struggling as of late as they have only won three times in their last 10 games. Their latest defeat was significant, as they were beaten 119-106 to the Orlando Magic on Sunday. With a record of 32 wins and 43 losses, the Magic are the third worst team in the Eastern Conference.
