NEW YORK — Ben Simmons He underwent back surgery for the second time in three years, and he and the Brooklyn Nets hope this procedure will give him the relief he needs to complete a full season.
The Nets said Simmons underwent a microscopic partial discectomy Thursday to relieve a pinched nerve in his lower back. The surgery was performed at UHealth Jackson Memorial Medical Center by Dr. Timur Urakov, in consultation with Dr. Barth Green.
Ben Simmons #10 of the Brooklyn Nets dribbles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors on February 22, 2024 at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Vaughn Ridley/NBAE via Getty Images
The No. 1 pick in the 2016 NBA draft is expected to make a full recovery in time for next season’s training camp. He has played in just 57 games since the Nets acquired him from the Philadelphia 76ers during the 2021-22 season.
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Simmons injured his back while trying to regain his conditioning after the trade, as he did not play for the 76ers at the beginning of that season for mental health reasons. He underwent a microdiscectomy, a procedure to remove a small fragment of a herniated disc, after the season ended.
Simmons then played just 42 games in 2022-23 before being sat in March due to a pinched nerve in his lower back. That injury returned just six games into this season and limited Simmons to just 15 games, including a streak of 38 consecutive games missed at one point.
The Nets announced last week that the three-time All-Star would not play again this season and would instead pursue treatment options.
Simmons finished with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists. He has one year and $40.3 million left on his contract.
2024-03-14 23:39:16
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