NEW YORK — The Nets have ruled embattled forward Ben Simmons out for the remainder of the year, head coach Jacque Vaughn said after practice on Tuesday, ending a months-long charade revolving around the status of the oft-injured former All-Star.
Simmons had missed all 17 games coming out of the Feb. 15-24 NBA All-Star break due to a combination of left knee and lower back soreness. The Nets announced Simmons would be out due to a nerve impingement on March 24, followed by Vaughn’s definitive ruling of out for the remainder of the season and the playoffs on Tuesday.
“After consulting with our doctors, multiple specialists, he’s just gonna begin a rehab program,” he said as players cleared the courts at the HSS Training Facility in Industry City after Nets practice. “Our doctors and the specialists feel and think that he’ll have a full recovery, so that starts now.”
