Startling details emerge as Ben Simmons saga continues at Nets
Ben Simmons' debut for the Brooklyn Nets could still have to wait until next season after it emerged that the Australian's back problems are worse than initially thought.
While Simmons refused to play for the Philadelphia 76ers prior to his trade to Brooklyn, citing mental health concerns, he is now unable to return to the court after being diagnosed with a herniated disc.
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The 25-year-old underwent an epidural last week in an effort to alleviate some of the pain in order to get back on the court, with the Nets subsequently revising when he is expected to return.
No firm date has been set, however the Nets remain cautiously optimistic Simmons could return before the playoffs - though this is the least likely outcome.
The injury is the latest twist in a saga that has dominated headlines for much of this NBA season, starting last October when Simmons requested a trade from Philadelphia.
He subsequently refused to practice with the team either, resulting in a protracted stand-off that cost Simmons millions of dollars in lost salary until he was traded to Brooklyn in exchange for former MVP James Harden.
Prior to Brooklyn's game against Utah on Tuesday, Nets coach Steve Nash gave an update on Simmons' condition.
"I'm not sure when they recognised it was beyond like a regular back flare-up and a herniated disc or whatnot," Nash said.
"I don't think it changes the outcome necessarily. We still have high hopes that he can come back.
"He's had moments during his rehab where he's on the court doing some things and it looks like he's about to turn a corner and then there's a little setback.
"So I still feel optimistic that he can play for us."
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The Nets have only 10 games left after Tuesday, followed by perhaps one or two in the play-in tournament it appears they'll have to get through to reach the playoffs.
Nash said he doesn't think there's a point the Nets would feel was too late for Simmons to still make a difference, even after being inactive all season.
"I think if he's able to get back to playing, I think we'd want to incorporate him at any point," he said.
Nash said he believed Simmons had been training hard throughout this season in Philadelphia before the trade, and then his back problems returned and haven't been able to be controlled enough since to get him back on the court.
"You just never know. You never know how he responds," Nash said.
"He can feel great and turn a corner in the next week or so, or it could be a longer-term thing.
"So we just have to be patient and see how it goes."
Meanwhile, Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown both dropped 30-point games to earn Boston a big win over the Denver Nuggets to continue their Eastern Conference resurgence.
Boston's eighth win in 10 moved them to 44-28 and consolidated fourth in the standings while Denver (42-30) dropped to seventh in the West.
The Celtics shot 57.3 per cent from the floor, finished 19-of-40 from beyond the arc, and hit all 11 of their free throws on Sunday.
Tatum and Payton Pritchard each drained four triples before the break, sparking the Celtics on a 46-21 run to close out the first half.
Nikola Jokic led the Nuggets with 23 points but the reigning MVP finished just 8-of-23 from the floor.
With AAP
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