Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons is currently dealing with a nerve impingement in his lower left back that has cost him some time. Unfortunately for Simmons and the Nets, the Aussie will miss more time with his back issue.
Simmons, the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, has already missed six of Brooklyn’s 12 games this season. That has been due to various reasons, including his current back injury.
How Ben Simmons’ Injury Affects the Brooklyn Nets
Brian Lewis of the New York Post reported on Tuesday that Simmons‘ agent, Bernie Lee, had a statement on Simmons’ latest injury. Lee said that Simmons’ is an issue of nerve irritation on the lower left side of his body. After this, the Nets reported that Simmons’ MRI revealed a nerve impingement in his back that was the source of his discomfort. A status update on Simmons will be provided one week from Nov. 14, but the injury is reportedly not catastrophic. Now, how does this latest injury for Simmons affect the Nets?
Uncertainty For Ben Simmons’ Future
While this nerve impingement is expected to be a short-term setback for Simmons, it’s a reminder of one of his biggest shortcomings. One thing that Simmons is known for nowadays is his likelihood of missing games for various reasons. He has already missed two full seasons because of injuries/holdouts and has yet to play more than 60 games in a season since 2018-19. While the Nets were well aware of his injury-filled past when they traded for him, the hope of him staying healthy is quickly fading away.
How Do the Nets Play Offense Without Simmons?
Since the beginning of this season, Simmons has been the point guard for Brooklyn and its high-flying offense. However, when he doesn’t play, the Nets can’t play the same way, and the offense takes a toll as a result. With Simmons on the court, the Nets have a higher effective field-goal percentage and assist percentage. While most on/off numbers say that Brooklyn is better without Simmons, the team doesn’t feel that way.
Can Brooklyn Rely On Simmons?
This latest injury shows that Simmons is still liable to get hurt at any moment. While that is true for any player in any sport, Simmons is too important to the Nets. Brooklyn’s entire scheme on both sides of the floor changes depending on Simmons’ availability. How does Brooklyn progress over the next few seasons if he’s unreliable?
The Last Word
If Brooklyn cannot get a consistent presence from Simmons, it may be time to consider trading him. Simmons is still valuable, but he could be more beneficial to another team looking to take a chance. Either way, Brooklyn has to hope that Simmons’ latest injury is indeed a short-term issue.
Simmons is owed about $77 million over the next two seasons. So, his availability is important for the Nets. He is averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 6.7 assists per game while shooting 52.8% from the field so far this season.
