Nets star Ben Simmons out indefinitely with back injury

Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons is likely to miss the rest of the NBA season to compound what has been a disappointing stint in Brooklyn. 

The Nets put out a statement confirming the injury but did not provide a timeline for Simmons’ recovery, only saying that he “will remain out of action while we determine the best long-term course of treatment.”

Simmons, 26, has not played a single minute of NBA basketball since the All-Star break because of knee soreness.

Simmons has played in 42 games this season, averaging a disappointing 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists.

This is some fall from grace for Simmons who entered the NBA as the No. 1 draft pick in 2016 out of LSU. 

He did not play throughout the 2021-22 season because of a back injury when he was with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said Thursday that Simmons had only worked out individually so far as the team tries to manage his recovery.

“It is not with teammates, and so I’ll say that piece of it,” Vaughn said. “He hasn’t scripted with our group, second group, first group, anything of that nature.”

Asked “how difficult” it would be to get Simmons “up to speed” if he were to return before the playoffs, Vaughn said, “The great thing is I don’t even think that far ahead. I don’t even complicate my life that way.”

Simmons has a long history of back problems and has struggled with injuries since he joined the Nets a year ago. 

Brooklyn are 39-34 and 7th in the Eastern Conference.