At long last, Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons is back on track after enduring a challenging journey to recover from a back injury. SNY’s Ian Begley reported on Thursday that Simmons is now fully healthy, having missed the last two months of the previous regular season due to the injury. The offseason has been free of setbacks for Simmons, and he is now focused on skill work and conditioning as he prepares for the upcoming training camp.
In an interview with Sirius XM NBA Radio, Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, expressed optimism about his client’s condition, stating, “The expectation is that he’ll be able to start the season Day 1 of training camp and definitely the regular season without any limitations in any way.” Lee went on to describe Simmons as a “basketball savant,” highlighting his exceptional abilities and predicting a high level of performance.
ESPN’s Marc Spears also reported that Simmons is on the right track and nearing readiness for the upcoming regular season. Spears cited a source close to Simmons, and during the panel discussion on “NBA Today,” they used Mikal Bridges’ endorsement of Simmons’ ability to return to form as a point of discussion.
Back in April, the Nets announced that Simmons would miss the remainder of the 2022-23 season due to a nerve impingement in his back. However, Lee assured everyone that Simmons would be healthy for the start of the next season. This was indeed the case as Simmons had a successful microdiscectomy back surgery in May 2022. Nets general manager Sean Marks confirmed in July that Simmons was in “great physical shape” and eager to return to action. Recent reports from ESPN and SNY indicate that Simmons has made significant progress in his recovery over the past few weeks.
Unfortunately, Simmons will not be participating in the 2023 FIBA World Cup in August, as he ran out of time to fully recover. Nevertheless, this decision is expected to improve his chances of remaining healthy throughout the 2023-24 season. With the departures of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, a healthy and confident Simmons would be a tremendous addition to the Brooklyn Nets.
The journey to recovery has been a long one for the 27-year-old guard, who has played only 42 games in the past two seasons due to knee and back injuries, including the recent nerve impingement. If Simmons remains healthy for the training camp, he will be competing with Spencer Dinwiddie for the starting point guard spot in the upcoming 2023-24 season.
In conclusion, Brooklyn Nets fans can finally breathe a sigh of relief as Ben Simmons has overcome his back injury and is set to shine in the upcoming NBA season. His remarkable recovery and dedication to skill work and conditioning indicate his commitment to returning to peak performance. The anticipation is high as fans eagerly await the return of the “basketball savant” to lead the Nets to victory in the 2023-24 season.