After weeks of anticipation, Monday’s game four in Brooklyn wound up not being the season debut for Ben Simmons, who ends the 2021-22 campaign without ever stepping foot on the court for game action.
Simmons, the headline return for the Nets in the James Harden trade, still has not suited up for his new team, and now won’t until next season’s opener, at the earliest.
Simmons had been ramping up to make his season debut since being traded back in February, until back issues flared up and kept him out through the start of the playoffs. But the belief was that he would be ready for game four to try and help Brooklyn avoid the sweep, and all signs seemed to be pointing towards that until Simmons reportedly told team officials the day before the game that he woke up with his back feeling sore once again.
According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, that unexpected news led to “frustration and disheartenment throughout the organization,” and sparked a meeting between team officials, Simmons, and his agent, Rich Paul.
In that meeting, Simmons reportedly told the Nets that he is battling a “mental block,” dating back to last postseason when he missed 10 free throws in a game, passed up on wide open layups, and struggled mightily offensively for the 76ers, leading to Simmons not showing up for training camp and later telling the team that he was struggling with his mental health.
Per Charania, Simmons told the team that the mental block could be causing stress that is linked to his back issues, or a “trigger point” for that physical pain. Despite that obstacle, Simmons made it clear that he wants to work through it and continue his basketball career.
Charania said the Nets responded by voicing their support for Simmons, and will spend the offseason working to try and get him mentally and physically ready to be a contributor next season.
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