To no fault of his own, Ben Simmons continues to curry disfavor with Brooklyn Nets fans. According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Simmons will be sidelined indefinitely. Simmons is said to be dealing with “nerve impingement” in his back.
Nerve impingement, known to some as a pinched nerve, occurs where there is too much pressure applied to a nerve by surrounding tissues such as bone, tendon, cartilage, or muscles. Nerve impinges can be very painful, and if it’s not treated correctly, that pain can not only cause even more harm, but also can potentially spread to other parts of the body.
Here some of the symptoms that can occur, listed by the National Institutes of Health:
- Numbness
- “Pins and needles” or burning sensations
- Pain radiating outward from the injured area
The Nets organization is still working to determine what would be the best course of action in terms of a treatment, per Bleacher Report. It’s possible that Ben Simmons won’t be returning to the court with his teammates for the remainder of the season. Simmons has been out of action since February 15th, and even before then he’s struggled to stay healthy this year. Simmons missed the entire 2021-2022 season for what he said were mental health issues.
Ben Simmons was included in the blockbuster trade which sent star player James Harden to the 76ers. Since coming to the Nets, Simmons’ numbers are down from what they were during his tenure in Philly. He’s gone from 15.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 7.5 assists to 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists. Fans have been openly critical of him all year, with many wanting him to either retire or just off the team.
There are still two years remaining on Ben Simmons’ deal after this season. Simmons is reportedly due $37,893,408 next year and $40,338,144 in 2024-25. The Nets are currently 39-34 in the Eastern Conference (7th seed).
Ben Simmons has a "nerve impingement" in his back and will be out indefinitely while the Nets determine the best long-term course of treatment pic.twitter.com/AAnV7TOjQP
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) March 24, 2023
