Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons will miss the remainder of the 2023-2024 season due to a nerve impingement in his lower back, the team announced. This injury has plagued Simmons over the past few seasons and caused him to miss significant time.
Simmons’ Injury History
The nerve impingement is the latest in a string of back injuries for Simmons.
He underwent microdiscectomy surgery in May 2022 to alleviate pain from a herniated disc. After playing just 15 games this season, averaging 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, Simmons was shut down in early March when the back pain returned.
In total, Simmons has appeared in just 57 regular season games since being traded to the Nets in February 2022.
His first season in Brooklyn ended prematurely due to the back surgery.
His 2020-21 season with Philadelphia was lost entirely due to mental health issues and back soreness.
What is a Nerve Impingement?
A nerve impingement occurs when surrounding tissue puts pressure on a nerve, resulting in pain, numbness, or weakness where the nerve travels.
For Simmons, a disc in his lower back has been putting pressure on a nerve. This can happen due to injury, disc degeneration, or simply abnormal anatomy.
Common symptoms of a nerve impingement include:
- Lower back pain that radiates to the legs
- Numbness or tingling in the legs and feet
- Muscle weakness in the legs
- Reduced range of motion in the back
Treatment Options
The Nets said Simmons will meet with specialists to explore long-term treatment options. Both non-surgical treatments and surgery are possibilities.
Non-Surgical Treatments
The initial treatment approach typically focuses on non-surgical options to alleviate inflammation and pressure on the nerve. Common conservative treatments include:
- Rest – Restricting activity allows nerves time to heal.
- Medications – Oral steroids or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can reduce swelling.
- Physical therapy – Stretching and exercises strengthen the core muscles and improve flexibility.
- Epidural steroid injections – Steroids are injected into the epidural space surrounding the nerve.
Surgery
If conservative measures fail to resolve symptoms after a few months, surgery may be considered. The primary surgical options include:
- Discectomy – Removing part or all of the problematic disc to decompress the nerve.
- Laminectomy – Widening the spinal canal by trimming away bone and tissue, creating more room for nerves.
- Spinal fusion – Permanently connecting two or more vertebrae for added stability.
Simmons’ Playing Future Unclear
At just 27 years old, Simmons theoretically has many prime years still ahead. However, his history of back injuries makes his future availability and production uncertain moving forward.
Recovery timelines after back surgery vary widely depending on the procedure, severity of nerve compression, and outcome of rehabilitation.
While some professional athletes return to elite play after spinal fusion or laminectomy, others struggle to regain prior performance.
Potential Return for 2024-2025
The Nets remain hopeful Simmons can make enough progress to contribute next season. But planning around him becoming a reliable, full-time starter seems unrealistic given all the setbacks over the past three years.
Simmons has not displayed much development in his outside shot or scoring ability recently.
Unless that changes, he projects mostly as a versatile defender, transition threat, and passer going forward – rather than a primary offensive engine.
Trade Value Almost Non-Existent
Simmons is owed about $114 million over the next three seasons on his current contract. His lack of availability makes him nearly impossible to trade without the Nets attaching significant draft capital in return.
It will be challenging to find a team willing to surrender meaningful assets for such an unreliable player, although a change of scenery could potentially benefit Simmons if he ever gets healthy.
Sources:
www.nba.com/news/ben-simmons-out-for-season
bleacherreport.com/articles/10112027-nets-ben-simmons-out-for-season-with-back-injury-will-explore-treatment-options
www.si.com/nba/2024/03/07/nets-rule-ben-simmons-out-for-remainder-of-season-with-nerve-issue-in-back
