The Brooklyn Nets have confirmed they are shutting down injured guard Ben Simmons for the remainder of the 2022-23 NBA season.
Simmons has not played for the Nets since February 15, just prior to the All-Star break, due to a nerve issue in his back.
“Ben will not be joining us the rest of the year and through the playoffs,” Nets head coach Jacques Vaughn said after practice.
“After consulting with our doctors, multiple specialists, he’s just going to begin a rehab program.
“Our doctors and the specialists feel and think that he’ll have a full recovery so that starts now.”
The former All-Star has only played 33 games for Brooklyn this campaign, having missed all of last season amid a drawn-out trade saga with the Philadelphia 76ers, before undergoing back surgery in the offseason.
Simmons averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists across those 33 games in the 2022-23 season.
The Australian appeared to find some form in November, particularly on offense, registering six straight double-digit scoring games, including a season-high 22 points against the Memphis Grizzlies but struggled for consistency.
Vaughn remained optimistic that the 2020 and 2021 NBA All-Defensive First Team selection could return to being a high-level player in the NBA.
“That’s our goal,” Vaughn said. “Overall you just think about, he’s 6-10, athletic, what he can do and bring to our team, how he can help our group on both ends of the floor.
“We want to be involved in that. We want to see that. I want to coach Ben and I want to be able to push Ben to get back to all-defensive team and impact our team on both ends of the floor. So that’s definitely the goal going forward.”
