Nets players thinking of Ben Simmons after his latest surgery
Nets guard Ben Simmons smiles from the bench in the first half of an NBA game against the Grizzlies at Barclays Center on March 4. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
ORLANDO, Fla. — As the Nets wrapped up three days in Florida, their minds shifted toward their game against the Pacers on Saturday. But they also thought about their teammate recovering four hours away in Miami.
That’s where Ben Simmons had a microscopic partial discectomy on Thursday, his second back surgery in 22 months.
“It’s tough, man, because I know how much he wants to compete and wants to be out there,” Dorian Finney-Smith said after practice Friday. “Any time you hear a player going through injury, all you can do is wish the best for them, check on them, ’cause you got to be strong mentally to miss this many games [and] dealing with the same issues.”
Simmons looms over the Nets like an unfulfilled hope. When the season ends, he’ll have played only 57 of 191 regular-season games since being traded from the 76ers in February 2022.
The surgery is a reminder of what a tough gamble it was for the Nets to build so much around him this season. Simmons’ back has barely been able to support him, but the Nets based their plans and offense around his gifts. It proved to be a flawed plan.
His absence isn’t why the Nets have struggled, but it’s one reason their offense has gone through too many lulls, which players say have contributed to their defensive issues.
The Nets (26-40), of course, have to move on. They’re fighting for a play-in tournament berth with 16 games left and have lost four of their last six games.
Simmons’ surgery is a reminder of how this season hasn’t gone according to plan for either him or his team. Now the Nets’ hope is that he can get healthy and that they can figure out how to use him as an asset, not a centerpiece, in the final year of his contract.
Those are conversations for later. For now, the Nets have well wishes for Simmons, who is facing a third straight offseason of rehab.
“He can finish this race the right way and I want him to finish this race being 100%,” coach Kevin Ollie said. “And then whatever happens happens on the court, but he can equip himself to go out there and be 100%.”
Ollie said on Feb. 26 in Memphis that Simmons played with one good leg against the Grizzlies. His leg soreness later was determined to be related to the nerve impingement in his back. It was his last game of the season.
So while the Nets leave Florida, their thoughts stay with their teammate still in the state. Simmons remains family, as Dennis Schroder said.
“I’m one of the guys that benefited from him being on the court,” Finney-Smith said. “I get a lot more open threes and easy shots. So we definitely miss him out there.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
