Ben Simmons might not be coming back from latest absence

The Australian NBA star is looking less and less likely to return this season as his latest absence from the game continues to confound.

Ben Simmons might not be coming back. Picture: Elsa/Getty

Injured Net Ben Simmons still hasn’t started practising fully yet, limited to individual work. And with just nine games left in the regular season, coach Jacque Vaughn hasn’t allowed himself to think about whether there is time for Simmons to get up to speed with his teammates even if he does get healthy.

“That’s the great thing, is I don’t even think that far ahead. I don’t even complicate my life that way,” Vaughn said.

“I’m concerned about [now]. If those questions present themselves, I’ll be more than willing to see how it fits with the group and answer them at that time. But I don’t want to look that far ahead.”

Ben Simmons hasn’t played in six weeks. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

Simmons on the sidelines with Patty Mills. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

Friday’s 116-114 loss to Cleveland marked the 15th straight that Simmons has missed with left knee and back soreness.

He hasn’t played since February 15, getting PRP injections before the All-Star break and still attempting a return to the court.

To date, Simmons has managed only individual work, but no team drills.

“It is not with teammates, so I’ll say that piece of it. So, he hasn’t scripted with our group, our second group, first group, or anything of that nature,” said Vaughn, who said the injured point/forward hasn’t made any significant improvement or taken any notable steps in the past week.

Jacque Vaughn. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

“Ben is in the same position he was the last time I talked to you, nothing further to comment on. I don’t think I can give you anything else. There’s been no … there’s been no nothing to add, really.”

Simmons has played just three games since the Kevin Durant trade became official and the Nets remade their roster, all of them coming off the bench.

He didn’t have any official practice with his new teammates before being shelved, and he hasn’t logged a single minute on the court alongside the trio of Mikal Bridges, Nic Claxton and Spencer Dinwiddie.

It begs the question of whether there is even time for Simmons to acclimate to his new teammates even should his health suddenly improve.

And the lack of any positive updates or developments, the latter is hardly a foregone conclusion.

This article was originally published by the New York Post and reproduced with permission