NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets are in the middle of a stretch where it seems that they are finding new ways to lose games rather than to win them. Brooklyn has been relatively healthy this season, but there is one guy that they have been missing for most of this season. The good news is, he could be back soon.
“Yeah, he’s still progressing,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said of guard Ben Simmons, who is currently out because of a nerve impingement in his left lower back, prior to Thursday’s game against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was reported shortly before Vaughn’s pregame media availability that Simmons would practice with Brooklyn’s G League affiliate, the Long Island Nets, this weekend. Vaughn confirmed those reports.
“That’ll be another step forward. Get some more lively bodies around him. And, then see what that looks like next week,” Vaughn said. “Hopefully, he continues to progress and we see him soon.” According to the reports, along with Vaughn, the anticipation is for Simmons to play next week assuming that everything goes well during his practice with Long Island this weekend.
The Nets will be playing their 44th game of the 2023-24 season on Thursday against the Timberwolves and Simmons has played just six of those games this season. In a season where much has gone wrong for Brooklyn, Simmons’ long-awaited return could be the best news the team has received so far this season.
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