(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
Hopes were very high for Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets this season.
And those hopes were dashed as the season went on.
Simmons has only played in 42 games this season, as a rash of injuries has kept him on the sidelines again and again.
Even though the Nets will likely make the playoffs, Simmons will not.
Shams Charania is reporting that the Nets have ruled out Simmons for the remainder of the season because of a back injury.
He will now begin a rehabilitation program, according to head coach Jacque Vaughn.
The Nets have ruled out Ben Simmons for the remainder of the season. Simmons is beginning a rehab program on his back, Nets coach Jacque Vaughn says.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 28, 2023
This news about Simmons isn’t surprising.
He hasn’t played a game with his team since the end of February and it seemed very likely that the team was going to shut him down.
Fans across the web feigned shock at this news.
— John Voita (@DarthVoita) March 28, 2023
Others joked that Simmons’ rehab process will consist of him playing video games and taking it easy as he does “everything he can to get back on the court to do what he loves best.”
Live Footage of Ben Simmons hard at work rehabbing and doing everything he can to get back on the court to do what he loves best pic.twitter.com/XblwZJzGMh
— Terry Gomez (@TerryGomezLV) March 28, 2023
There are many people who feel that Simmons has played his last game for the Nets and his last game in America.
“China,” stated one fan who predicted he’d only play ball overseas.
china
— 𝙥𝙝𝙭𝙡𝙡 (@phxllnohoes) March 28, 2023
Others echoed that sentiment, with statements like “Bye bye Ben” flowing across Twitter.
Bye bye Ben
— Alex (@Brazil201) March 28, 2023
Finally, many NBA fans pointed out that Simmons was traded to the Nets in exchange for James Harden last season.
“If you tried to trade Simmons today, I don’t think you’d even get a second round pick,” said a fan.
A reminders the Sixers got James Harden for him.
If you tried to trade Simmons today, I don’t think you’d even get a second round pick. You might have to attach picks to him to get someone to take on his contract.
— Christopher Lloyd (@ChristopheLloyd) March 28, 2023
This has been a very bad year for Simmons.
In fact, the last few years have been very bad.
Simmons is done for the season and now everyone is wondering what’s next for him: a return to Brooklyn, a trip overseas, early retirement, or another choice?
He is no longer the star he once was and it’ll take a lot for Simmons to change that.
The post NBA Fans React To Today’s Ben Simmons News appeared first on The Cold Wire.