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Update, April 24: The Nets have actually ruled Simmons out for Game 4, which makes sense with the team down 3-0 to the Celtics. It makes little sense for Simmons to come back in a potential elimination game, so the Nets will likely have him for next season.
Nets are listing Ben Simmons as OUT for Game 4 vs. Celtics. A surprise as Simmons had been expected to play Monday as long as rehab was on course.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2022
Update, April 21: Simmons plans to make his season debut in Game 4 against the Celtics, according to Shams Charania. The Nets are down 2-0 but have been in good positions to win both games. With the series shifting to Brooklyn, Simmons will look to contribute in what looks to be a pivotal Game 4.
Brooklyn Nets three-time All-Star Ben Simmons plans to make his season debut in Game 4 vs. Boston on Monday as long as rehab remains on course, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Simmons is set to play his first game since June 2021.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 21, 2022
Update, April 20: According to Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons and the Nets are targeting a potential return in Game 4 against the Celtics next Monday. The Nets haven’t ruled Simmons out officially for Game 3, but he still has some hurdles to clear. It looks like Brooklyn will get the star guard back at home, likely in Game 4.
Based on Ben Simmons’ progress in practices this week – and the anticipation of him further accelerating in the coming days – Game 4 vs. Boston on Monday is looming as a realistic target for his Brooklyn debut, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 20, 2022
Update, April 16: Ben Simmons is expected to start practicing against his teammates “in the coming week,” according to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski. Woj reported Simmons was able to run and shoot pain-free for over a week and will take this next step in his bid to return in the first round.
Update, April 14: According to NBA Insider Shams Charania, it appears that Ben Simmons could be making his debut for the Brooklyn midway through the first round.
Ben Simmons is ‘targeting a return within Games 4-6’ of the first-round series vs. the Celtics, per @ShamsCharania pic.twitter.com/35ZS7zoz1W
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 14, 2022
We’ll see how much he’d be used if he did suit up against the Celtics.
The Ben Simmons saga has been in and out of the headlines all season long, as the 25-year-old guard has yet to make an appearance on the floor this season. After spending a long stretch at odds with the Philadelphia 76ers, he was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets along with Seth Curry and Andre Drummond in exchange for James Harden.
Since joining the Nets, Simmons still hasn’t made an appearance as he’d spent time getting back into playing shape. Somewhere along the way he suffered a herniated disc which caused even further problems as the Nets ruled him out for the remainder of the season and the play-in tournament.
Ben Simmons injury updates
In early April, head coach Steve Nash said the earliest Simmons would see the floor is the first round of the playoffs, but that doesn’t seem very likely at this point. He hasn’t played in an NBA game since June of 2021, and hasn’t been able to do any real training aside from light shooting during practice.
Simmons has a long way to go before he’s back on the court, and the Nets certainly don’t want to rush him, so it remains to be seen if he’ll see the floor at all during the Nets’ playoff campaign. There’s a report from Shams Charania saying the Nets are optimistic Simmons can return for the first round if the team makes it out of the play-in tournament. We’ll see how much value that has when the time comes to actually make a call on Simmons.