The Nets locked themselves into the No. 7 seed in the NBA Eastern Conference Play-In Tournament with a win in Sunday’s season finale against the Pacers, meaning they have two chances to win one game to advance to the playoffs.
And, while NBA insider Shams Charania Tweeted Sunday that there is “optimism” Simmons could be available at some point in a first-round series, head coach Steve Nash wasn’t so sure after watching Simmons do some on-court work before the game.
“That’s as much as he’s done. That’s a big progression to get here; he was doing nothing on the floor, but he clearly started strengthening and doing some light shooting,” Nash said after Simmons’ workout.
“He’s doing a little bit of movement, some increased mobility stuff and light shooting, but that’s it.”
Simmons did look good in that video posted by the Daily News’ Kristian Winfield, but Nash was quick to say that this isn’t someone who has been out for a few weeks ramping up to a return. Simmons hasn’t stepped on the court since June 2021, when the Sixers were eliminated from last year’s playoffs, and is nursing a back issue that cropped up after his deal to Brooklyn, so he’s at 10 months now of no real game activity.
That includes running, which Nash said Sunday he’s not yet done, so it seems like a longshot Simmons would be available anytime soon.
“I would be shocked, but we’ll see; I don’t want to walk through the next five weeks right now guessing,” Nash said. “We have to put his health and safety first, and make sure he’s ready to play.”
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That said, the head coach is pleased by Simmons’ progress.
“He’s still got a lot of milestones to reach,” Nash said, “but it’s positive.”
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