
Source: Mike Stobe / Getty
Embattled NBA player Ben Simmons is officially shutting it down for the season.
Brooklyn Nets coach Jacque Vaughn broke the news, citing a recommendation from the team’s medical staff.
“Ben will not be joining us the rest of the year and through the playoffs,” Vaughn said after practice. “After consulting with our doctors, multiple specialists, he’s just going to begin a rehab program. Our doctors and the specialists feel and think that he’ll have a full recovery so that starts now.”
If you totally forgot Simmons was even on the Brooklyn squad, it’s because he has played since the final game before the All-Star break in February. His current stretch of missed games has been blamed on a nerve issue in his back, but he’s missed an additional 33 contests because of knee and back injuries.
Simmons is averaging just 6.9 points a game and has seen little playing time lately since deciding not to take the court last season until he got traded from the Philadelphia 76ers. The drama in Philly consisted of him being fined over a million dollars for missing four preseason games and Coach Doc Rivers kicking him out of practice for refusing to run drills.
After his February 2022 trade to the Nets, and was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back just a month later. Then in April, Coach Steve Nash shut him down for the season. He planned to return during a pivotal playoff game against the Boston Celtics, but it never happened.
The 26-year-old has another two years remaining on his contract, with the Nets scheduled to pay him nearly $80 million.
With two seasons left, Nets general manager Sean Marks said the franchise plans to continue supporting Simmons as he deals with his latest health issue.
“Same thing we’ve done in the past, is support him,” Marks told ESPN. “This is a young man that has been through a very traumatic and pretty arduous last couple years here. And this is not news that he wants to hear. He didn’t want specialists telling him, ‘Hey look, here’s the best thing for you.’”
Twitter’s had enough of Simmons seemingly quitting on his teams and commenced to roasting him once again.
See the reactions below.
1.
Ben Simmons hasn’t played a full season of basketball since his senior year at montverde academy https://t.co/wCqOD24gWR
— John (@iam_johnw) March 28, 2023
2.
The best moment from Ben Simmons this season pic.twitter.com/6fwGWfMLVI
— PointsBet Sportsbook (@PointsBetUSA) March 28, 2023
3.
Ben Simmons’ career summarized in 7 seconds https://t.co/jr8FkZjYwi pic.twitter.com/dkuKLJXx8O
— Chalkboard (@ChalkboardHQ) March 13, 2023
4.
Ben simmons at the nets be like pic.twitter.com/EnlzLzXqNE
— i₿ou 𓃮 (@teamibou23) March 28, 2023
5.
Ben Simmons couldn’t even get a Woj tweet for being out the season, I’ve seen that mf tweet about ignas brazdeikis before pic.twitter.com/4XCeGaHBPg
— Bo Mamba (@urgoodd) March 25, 2023
6.
Daryl Morey deserves an award for flipping Ben Simmons for James Harden
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod
(@big_business_) March 28, 2023
7.
Ben Simmons in his bounce back 22-23 season
42 games
6.9 ppg
6.3 rpg
6.1 apg
0% from 3
43 FT%
Proved those evil philly fans wrong
pic.twitter.com/ZUIpEcnrC1
— Goob (@TrolledByEmbiid) March 26, 2023
8.
Absolutely Nobody:
Ben Simmons to the Brooklyn nets: https://t.co/XJ6msSx9wr pic.twitter.com/ZK00K8D0ug
— Shannonnn sharpes Burner (PARODY Account) (@shannonsharpeee) March 28, 2023
9.
Nets medical team: “OK, Ben, you’re cleared”
Ben Simmons: pic.twitter.com/0f6Xchdoey
— Nick Piccone (@_piccone) March 24, 2023
10.
Ben Simmons played 100 games over the last three seasons.
He made $85.9 million. https://t.co/SDmQa6ayfo
— Darren Rovell (@darrenrovell) March 28, 2023
11.
Ben Simmons forced his way away from a team that coddled him for his entire career, and now he’s learning how the NBA really is the hard way. There’s no reason to believe he’ll be able to turn his career around.
— Michael K-B (@therealmikekb) March 28, 2023
12.
Ben Simmons finished his season with 59 more points than Paul Reed
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) March 28, 2023
13.
Ben Simmons finished the year with
42 Games played
97 total turnovers
139 fouls
291 points
55 TS%Career lows in PPG, APG, RPG
Generational scammer. pic.twitter.com/zqVHF6v7tC
— DJ (vamos los Jankees) (@kingdj_5297) March 28, 2023
14.
Ben Simmons after his contract is over pic.twitter.com/5rPcHFh3B3
— DeMarvelous
(@DeMarvelousss) March 28, 2023