Ben Simmons undergoes successful back surgery for the 2nd time since joining Nets in 2022
Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons had successful surgery Thursday for a nerve impingement in his lower back, the team announced.
Simmons is expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next season, the team added.
The former No. 1 overall pick and Rookie of the Year averaged a career-low 6.1 points in 23.9 minutes per game this season, appearing in just 15 games.
This is the 27-year-old's second back surgery since he was traded to the Nets two years ago after a holdout from the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons had microdiscectomy surgery for a herniated L-4 disk in May 2022 and missed the entire season. He played in 42 games last season due to knee injuries and continued issues with his back.
His recent microscopic partial discectomy was performed by Dr. Timur Urakov at UHealth Jackson Memorial Medical Center in Florida.
Last week, Simmons’ agent, Bernie Lee, implied that surgery was being considered for Simmons.
“It is a continuation of the same injury that he has dealt with all year. We are trying to get clearer answers as to how to get him out of the reactive cycle he's in," Lee said in a statement to SNY. "We continue to try and find non-surgical options to allow Ben to move forward on a permanent basis and that is where this is my responsibility and I am [the] one to blame."
Two days later, the Nets announced that the Australian star was out for the remainder of the season and interim head coach Kevin Ollie offered positive words.
"I know he has a lot of emotions that's inside of him," he said. "But he's been down this road before and I know he's gonna get prepared with his team, our medical staff, our organization, and we have empathy for him."
Simmons has a season left on the five-year contract that he signed with Philadelphia in 2019. The Nets owe him $40.3 million next year.
