Nets optimistic Ben Simmons progressing toward possible debut during playoffs: report

Ben Simmons could get back on the floor sooner than expected. Ahead of tip-off in the Nets’ regular-season finale against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Simmons participated in pregame warmups for the first time since arriving in Brooklyn. Simmons, 25, the two-time All-Star the Nets acquired in the Feb. 10 James Harden trade with the Philadelphia 76 ers, has not...

Ben Simmons could get back on the floor sooner than expected.

Or maybe that was the plan all along.

Ahead of tip-off in the Nets’ regular-season finale against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday, Simmons participated in pregame warmups for the first time since arriving in Brooklyn. And there’s increased optimism Simmons could make his debut in the Nets’ first-round playoff series if his lower back continues to strengthen without a setback, The Athletic reported.

Simmons did some light running and went through a variety of shooting drills. In those drills, he used crossover combinations and got significant lift under his legs for pull-up jump shots.

Simmons, 25, the two-time All-Star the Nets acquired in the Feb. 10 James Harden trade with the Philadelphia 76ers, has not made his Nets debut because of a herniated disk in his lower back.

As a reminder, it was only a week ago that head coach Steve Nash said Simmons “isn’t running yet” and ruled him out for Tuesday’s upcoming Play-In Tournament game.

Simmons doesn’t look like he’ll be ready for Tuesday, but seeing him warmup was encouraging. He is still limited to individual work, but he previously was only getting rehab treatment.

“He’s doing a little bit of movement,” Nash said before Sunday’s game. “Still, one and 0 stuff. He still has a lot of milestones to reach. But it’s positive. At least he’s moving around a little bit.”

Simmons’ lower back issues started in February 2020, when a nerve impingement sidelined him for two weeks. The lower back pain resurfaced while he held out of Sixers training camp earlier this season. It flared up again as he began to ramp up his conditioning workload in Brooklyn.

An MRI revealed the herniated disk, and Simmons received an epidural to help alleviate the pain. The epidural appears to have worked. Simmons is back on the floor doing individual drills after weeks of being “the mystery guy” who gets treatment on his back while the team practices, starting center Andre Drummond explained.

Now Simmons looks bouncy. He moved around the court almost as if he was healthy, though he signaled to a team trainer that he wanted to continue some training with the resistance bands to build strength in his back and legs.

“He looks really positive and happy and encouraged and is just working away at his rehab,” Nash said.

A healthy Simmons could turn the Nets from championship contender into favorites once again. He has a career-average 16 points, eight rebounds, 7.7 assists and just under two steals.

Simmons is a perennial candidate for Defensive Player of the Year, someone who accepts the task of defending the other team’s best scorer. And alongside Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, he could be the third star this team needs to win big this season — provided he can stay healthy enough for their championship push.

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