Brooklyn announces Ben Simmons will not be coming back

The basketball world is making the same joke after the Brooklyn Nets announced the Australian star will not be coming back.

Ben Simmons. Photo by Justin Ford/Getty Images.

Ben Simmons’ 2022-23 season has officially ended.

The 26-year-old won’t play again for the Nets this season, head coach Jacque Vaughn said on Wednesday (AEDT).

Simmons will start a rehab program for his ailing back.

Doctors haven’t recommended surgery and a procedure is “not in sight,” according to Vaughn.

“Our doctors and the specialists feel and think that he’ll have a full recovery,” Vaughn said, “so that starts now.”

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Vaughn’s comments essentially confirmed what appeared the most likely scenario after Simmons was diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his back Friday — in addition to the list of knee and back problems that have derailed his season and sidelined him since the All-Star break.

Ben Simmons’ career is in free fall. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images.

Simmons appeared in just 42 games, all this season, since arriving from the 76ers in a trade last season and has averaged 6.9 points and 26.3 minutes per game, with all three numbers serving as career-lows.

Simmons was on the books for nearly $35.5 million this season, and he has two years remaining on a five-year, $177 million contract.

The news triggered another round of jokes about the Nets’ return on their investment in Simmons.

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

i think the ben simmons jokes are corny at this point. we know he’s not the player he once was and he probably knows that too.

— gabb goudy (@gabbgoudy) March 28, 2023

Ben Simmons finishes the season at:

6.9 Points/ 6.3 Rebounds/ 6.1 Assists

A true 666 guy

— Doug Norrie (@DougNorrie) March 28, 2023

Ben Simmons this season with the Nets:

42 games
26.3 minutes
6.9 points
6.3 rebounds
6.1 assists
1.3 steals
5.6 FGA
43.9% FT%

These are all career-lows

Simmons has been shut down for the remainder of the season

— Sean Barnard (@Sean_Barnard1) March 28, 2023

When Simmons started his strengthening program in late February, shortly after the Nets returned from their All-Star break, Vaughn said the goal was to get him back on the court.

During what Vaughn labelled a “reassessment” phase, though, the nerve impingement was revealed.

That led to Simmons visiting with specialists — which then snowballed into the latest development.

Despite the latest setback, Vaughn said the Nets’ aim is still “to be involved” with Simmons, who was once a rising star with the 76ers.

“I want to coach Ben and I want to be able to push Ben to get back to all-defensive team and impact our team on both ends of the floor,” Vaughn said. “So that’s definitely the goal going forward.”

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