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The Brooklyn Nets hoped Ben Simmons would be back to his DPOY level this season, but that was hardly the case.
Simmons struggled with a lingering back injury again, and his offensive confidence was mostly off when he was on the court.
The team eventually shut him down for the remainder of the season, and some feared he might have to undergo another procedure on his back.
Source: #Nets‘ Ben Simmons unlikely to have second back surgery after ‘really good improvement’ #nba https://t.co/4eHitvxias via @nypostsports
— Brian Lewis (@NYPost_Lewis) April 18, 2023
Now, Brian Lewis of The New York Post finally has a bit of an encouraging update, stating that a second procedure is now unlikely for the former No. 1 pick.
Lewis adds that the team will evaluate Simmons in May, and there they could make a decision depending on whether he hasn’t improved or is still experiencing pain.
However, there’s optimism from the team, and he claims that sources close to Simmons report that he’s also changed his mindset and is more confident ahead of next season.
Simmons underwent microdiscectomy surgery for a herniated disk, which has an estimated recovery time of 18 months.
So, he could be out for the first month of next season as well.
The Nets will err on the side of caution with Simmons, though, as he has a long and well-documented history of injuries, but has proven to be an impactful player when at full strength.
His elite playmaking and defensive skills make him a guy worth holding onto, and it’s not like the Nets have another choice with his big contract.
Hopefully, he’ll get back on track and finally live up to that untapped potential he clearly has.
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