Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons recently underwent surgery to address a nerve impingement in his lower back, as reported by Shams Charania of The Athletic.
The decision for surgery followed an announcement by the Nets on March 7, stating that Simmons would be sidelined for the remainder of the regular season to explore treatment options for the nerve impingement.
Throughout the 2023-24 season, Simmons, 27, struggled with his availability, managing to participate in just 15 games. His playing time was limited, averaging a career-low 6.1 points in 23.9 minutes per game.
Simmons’ battle with back problems is not new, as it has persisted over the past few years, extending into his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets following his trade from the Philadelphia 76ers in 2022, a deal headlined by James Harden. Since the trade, Simmons has appeared in only 57 games.
This marks Simmons’ second back surgery, following a procedure in May 2022 to address discomfort stemming from a herniated disc. Since then, his performance has fallen short of his previous All-Star caliber, averaging just 6.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 6.0 assists per game with Brooklyn.
In addition to his offensive struggles, Simmons’ defensive impact has declined, affecting his overall effectiveness on the court. His net rating of -3.4 for the 2023-24 season ranked him ninth among Nets players who logged at least 15 minutes per game, according to NBA.com.
Currently, Simmons has one season remaining on his five-year contract, initially signed with the 76ers in 2019.
Given his hefty contract, with a cap hit exceeding $40.3 million for the 2024-25 season, accounting for approximately 28.6 percent of the salary cap, it’s anticipated that finding a trade partner for Simmons before his contract expires will be challenging, as per Spotrac.
