Ben Simmons has yet to make his Brooklyn Nets debut, and still has not appeared in a game since the 2021 NBA Playoffs.
It doesn’t sound like he’s close to finally seeing the court again either. Nets head coach Steve Nash provided an update on the lefty playmaker before Brooklyn’s play-in game tonight, and it’s not an uplifting one.
According to Nash, Simmons has not begun sprinting again and still hasn’t progressed past 1-on-0 workouts.
Steve Nash says Ben Simmons hasn’t started sprinting and hasn’t progressed beyond 1-0 workouts yet.
— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) April 12, 2022
This is a strikingly different tone than Shams Charania’s report over the weekend, which said there was “optimism” Simmons might be able to return during the first round of the playoffs.
“[There’s] optimism Nets star Ben Simmons could make debut during first round of the NBA playoffs as long as his progression continues in strengthening his legs and back,” Charania said. “Simmons has been ramping up his workload and is expected to continue doing so.”
It sounds like that ramping up has not happened. We’ll see if it does in the coming days, but as of now, don’t bet on Simmons being in uniform in the postseason.
The Nets are hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers at 7 p.m. ET tonight in the play-in round. If they win, they will take on the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.
Should the Nets lose, they will play the winner of Hawks-Hornets for the eighth and final seed in the Eastern Conference bracket.
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