Nets' Simmons out for season due to back injury
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons will miss the remainder of the season due to a nerve impingement in his lower back, the team announced Thursday.
Simmons and the Nets' medical staff are speaking with numerous experts to determine the best course of action for his long-term health. The same injury forced a premature end to Simmons' previous campaign.
Earlier this week, Simmons' agent, Bernie Lee, took the blame for his client's lingering back issue.
"When I began working with Ben, I made a commitment to him that I would do everything I could to find the right answers and specialists for him to work with to move forward from the issues he has been having," Lee told SNY's Ian Begley. "Clearly, it hasn't happened, and that's my responsibility.
Simmons has one season remaining on a five-year, $177.2-million contract.
The former No. 1 overall pick has made just 57 appearances with the Nets due to various ailments over the past two years. He missed Brooklyn's last five games prior to Thursday's announcement.
The Nets acquired Simmons from the Philadelphia 76ers in February 2022 as part of the James Harden blockbuster deal. The LSU product averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 boards, and 5.7 assists across 15 appearances this season.