Ben Simmons officially out for the season, Brooklyn Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn says
Victoria HernandezThe Brooklyn Nets' season continues to sour.
On Tuesday, head coach Jacque Vaughn announced star point guard Ben Simmons was out for the season but is expected to make a full recovery.
On Friday, the team said Simmons was diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his back, and there was no timetable for his return. The three-time All-Star hasn't played since Feb. 15 after dealing with back issues. He has not been consistently available for the Nets and missed a total of 33 games this season.
Spencer Dinwiddie has been starting in Simmons' spot after being acquired from the Mavericks ahead of the NBA trade deadline in the blockbuster trade that sent Kyrie Irving to Dallas. Dinwiddie is averaging 17 points per game for Brooklyn.
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Simmons is averaging 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in his first season with the Nets. He sat out the entire 2021-22 season dealing with his mental health and a back injury. He was traded to the team midway through last season in a deal that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers in exchange for Simmons, Seth Curry and Andre Drummond.
This season, the Nets also lost Kevin Durant in a trade with the Phoenix Suns. They are currently sixth in the Eastern Conference with a 40-35 record and have lost six of their last seven contests.
There are seven games left in the regular season before playoffs begin April 15.
