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2017 Warriors vs. 2027 Sixers
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on before the game against the Miami Heat on February 11, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 11: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers looks on before the game against the Miami Heat on February 11, 2017 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)Jesse D. Garrabrant/Getty Images

Ben Simmons Undergoes Bone Marrow Injection to Help Heal Foot Injury

Timothy RappFeb 27, 2017

The Philadelphia 76ers announced on Monday that Ben Simmons underwent a procedure to "stimulate bone growth" and "accelerate healing" in his injured right foot.

According to Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer, the procedure involved Simmons having bone marrow injected into his right foot. Simmons is recovering from aย Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal suffered in September.

Simmons will resume training by the end of the week, per the Sixers.

The procedure comes just a few days after a CT scanย revealedย Simmons' foot hadn't fully healed.

"He's heartbroken," Sixers general manager Bryan Colangelo said at the time, perย Brian Seltzerย of Sixers.com. "He wants to play, be out there. It's eating him alive, I'm sure."

"It's not the way you want to start your career, but it happens,"ย Colangelo added, perย Tom Mooreย of Calkins Media.

While the Sixers didn't release a timetable for Simmons' return when he was initially injured, similar injuries often require a six- to eight-weekย recovery period. A scan in late January wasย believedย to have shown his foot had healed and he'd suffered no setbacks, butย reportsย later in February indicated the foot perhaps had not fully recovered.

Simmons' latest scan indicated as much, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season.

It's been a major disappointment for the Sixers, who on Monday also announced that center Joel Embiid was out indefinitely with swelling in his left knee, perย ESPN. Simmonsโ€”the No. 1 pick of the 2016 NBA draftโ€”and Embiid are believed to be the cornerstones of Philadelphia's future.ย 

The pair unfortunatelyย don't represent the present, as Simmons has yet to play a game and Embiidโ€”who missed his first two seasons due to injuriesโ€”has only appeared in 31 games this season. The Sixers have a lot to be excited about, with Dario Saric having an excellent rookie season and a slew of first-round picks owed to the team in the coming years.

But this season has taken a disappointing turn given the latest news on Simmons and Embiid.ย 

2017 Warriors vs. 2027 Sixers