Nets coach Steve Nash rules Simmons out of NBA Play-In
Ben Simmons has not played for the Brooklyn Nets since being traded from the Philadelphia 76ers in February.
Ben Simmons will not feature for the rest of the regular season or the upcoming Play-In tournament, according to Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash.
Simmons is yet to debut for the Nets following his February trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, following his bitter and prolonged stand-off with the team that drafted him. The Australian guard has subsequently not played all season.
The former All-Star had an epidural last month to alleviate pressure in his back as he struggles to build his conditioning up to a level fit enough to see him return to action.
Simmons has started participating in limited practice, but Nash confirmed on Monday that the 25-year-old will not return before the end of the regular season, or for the Play-In, which takes place between April 12-15.
The Nets are the first team in NBA history to have a player with 55+ points (Kevin Durant) and another player with 30+ points (Kyrie Irving) yet lose the game.
— Stats By STATS (@StatsBySTATS) April 3, 2022
The Nets are on course to require two wins in the Play-In tournament to qualify for the playoffs, sitting in 10th place in the Eastern Conference after three defeats in their last four games, with an overall regular-season record of 40-38.