The Nets could have their biggest name back on the court soon.
Ahead of Brooklyn’s game against the Timberwolves on Thursday night, head coach Jacque Vaughn announced that Ben Simmons, who has been out 2 ¹/₂ months with a lower-back nerve impingement, could return as early as next week — possibly Monday at Barclays Center against the Jazz.
Simmons worked out at Thursday morning’s shootaround and Vaughn said the plan is for him to play for G-League Long Island on Saturday.
“He’s still progressing. Great to see him. Get a chance to play a little stay ready today,” Vaughn said before the Nets’ 96-94 loss to the Timberwolves. “He will Saturday, play hopefully with Long Island, that’ll be another step forward and get some more lively bodies around him and then see what that looks like next week. And hopefully, he continues to progress and we see him soon.”
Simmons has only played in 48 of the Nets’ 162 games, since he was acquired during the 2021-22 season.
Over those missed games, the organization has paid him $46.2 million.
This season, he is making $37.9 million.
Coming over from Philadelphia along with Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, and two first-round draft picks in exchange for James Harden and Paul Millsap on Feb. 10, 2022, Simmons missed all 28 regular-season games and four playoff games with the Nets that season.
In 2022-23, he was out for 40 out of the team’s 82 regular-season games, as well as four playoff games.
This season, Simmons has only seen action in six games and last played on Nov. 6 against the Bucks.
In those games, Simmons averaged 6.5 points, 6.7 assists, and 10.8 rebounds while shooting 52.8 percent from the field.
“If we continue to have no setbacks and which has been the case so far, hopefully we do see him next week,” Vaughn said.
The announcement comes as somewhat of a surprise, with Vaughn’s comments before Tuesday’s loss to the Knicks making it seem like Simmons would have several more hurdles to clear before his return.
“He will not play this week, so that gives us [Tuesday], Minnesota, and Houston. So he will not play this week,” Vaughn said. “But all signs are pointing towards him … at some point, we’ll use Long Island to get a practice underneath him or get some more bodies around him.
“Hopefully, that’s in the near future.”
During what was a healthy preseason, the Nets often expressed their excitement to have Simmons ready as their facilitator, known to keep the team on a fast pace.
The guard may be able to help Brooklyn turn things around, especially with its inability to close out a 48-minute game after dropping their 11th game of the past 13 against the Knicks on Tuesday.
