Ben Simmons breaks silence after back surgery with spicy tweet

After Ben Simmons underwent major disc surgery in his back, the Australian basketballer shared a spicy tweet directed at his critics.

Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

Ben Simmons’ sad saga continued this week as he underwent major disc surgery in his back, though the Brooklyn Nets claim he will be back for training camp.

The team termed the surgery as a “microdiscectomy”, which took place in Los Angeles at Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Rey Hospital, the New York Post reports.

The procedure was performed by Dr. Robert Watkins IV, and the Nets said after three weeks of recovery, Simmons will begin a rehab program.

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Even if he makes it back for late September’s training camp, the new surgery will keep him off the basketball court, where he hasn’t been competitively for quite some time.

Simmons has not played an actual NBA game since June 2021 — although he participated in Nets practice, he never performed in a five-on-five scrimmage.

Traded to the Nets in February in a package for James Harden, Simmons never suited up — first dealing with ongoing mental health issues then the back soreness.

A furore around Simmons exploded as Brooklyn were swept 4-0 in their first-round playoff series against Boston last month — a huge let-down for a team featuring superstars like Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

Patty Mills #and Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images

Simmons came under heavy fire after failing to suit up for Game 4 against the Celtics, having targeted that match as a comeback.

The Aussie had been practising with the aim of returning to action but woke up on the morning of the game with back soreness and sat out as his team’s season ended early.

NBA players and pundits unloaded on Simmons for sitting out. American sportscaster Stephen A. Smith delivered the most brutal smackdown, saying Simmons “might also be the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a professional athlete we’ve ever seen in not just American history but the history of sport”.

“I do recall despite him not playing, he still filed a grievance to collect $20 million (from the 76ers) that he has not earned. This is one of the most pathetic situations that I’ve ever seen in my life,” Smith said.

“He ain’t going to war, he ain’t going in the (UFC) Octagon, he’s not going into the boxing ring. It’s pulling teeth to get this man to play basketball.

“It’s pathetic, it’s sad.”

On Friday, Simmons’ Twitter account retweeted a video calling for Smith and other NBA pundits to apologise to the Australian.

Ben Simmons Twitter account retweeted this video https://t.co/Z8yTFEbh3v

— Dave Uram (@MrUram) May 5, 2022

The surgery further proves the Nets got damaged goods in the Simmons deal. However, the 76ers aren’t soaring with Harden, who hasn’t lifted his game in the second-round series versus the Heat, with Philadelphia trailing 2-0.

Nets president Sean Marks and coach Steve Nash haven’t addressed the media since the Nets were swept by the Celtics, 4-0, in an embarrassing first-round flop.

— with the New York Post