Report: Simmons to miss 3 months after foot surgery next week
Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons will undergo surgery on his right foot next week and is expected to miss about three months of action, sources told ESPN's Marc Stein and Jeff Goodman.
Simmons suffered a fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot while landing on another player's foot in a training camp scrimmage Friday. Stein reports it was an "acute injury" unrelated to Simmons' weight gain, as had been speculated by some.
Simmons, the No. 1 pick in June's draft, said on media day he's added 33 pounds to his 6-foot-10 frame.
The news is a devastating blow for a franchise that's been trying to stay healthy and get on the right track for five years now. Its first pick in 2014, center Joel Embiid, has yet to play an NBA game due to severe foot injuries.
Related: Recapping the Sixers' recent injury history
Simmons has been a popular early pick for Rookie of the Year this season, and the 20-year-old Australian has even garnered comparisons to LeBron James in terms of his size and skill set.