Less than 10 days after their season ended in a four-game sweep vs. the Celtics, the Nets announced Wednesday night that former Sixers star Ben Simmons will undergo back surgery Thursday.
Simmons, who didn't play a single game in the 2021-22 NBA season, was traded to the Nets at the NBA trade deadline in February in the James Harden deal.
Simmons expressed a desire to return to the court multiple times between February and the Nets' postseason exit, including a teased Game 4 return in the Nets-Celtics series, but was hindered multiple times by back soreness.
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Here's the full announcement of the surgery, via the team:
"After consultation with multiple back specialists, it has been determined that the best course of action for Ben's long-term health is for him to undergo surgery. The microdiscectomy procedure, scheduled for Thursday, is designed to alleviate pain caused by the herniated disc in Ben's back. Further updates will be provided following the procedure."
ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reports Simmons will need three to four months to fully recover from the surgery and is expected to be ready for training camp.
Simmons' reasoning for not playing changed a lot during his months-long saga, from a desire to leave the Sixers, to mental health issues, to inconsistent back soreness. It was unclear for a while what exactly was going on with Simmons, and even the Nets' front office seemed disillusioned by Simmons' morning-of back pain report on the day of Game 4.
NBA
But the guy is undergoing back surgery, which would certainly seem to point to the back being the reason Simmons didn't step on the floor. Bummer, but it's good to see him getting it taken care of once and for all.
Simmons, 25, is still a tremendous basketball player - if one with numerous shortcomings on the court - and next season's first game in Philly should be an absolute scene.