Nets' Ben Simmons Has No Timetable for Injury Return Despite Rumors, Steve Nash Says

After a report Sunday from Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium that there was "optimism" Brooklyn Nets power forward Ben Simmons might be able to return for the first round of the playoffs as he recovers from a back injury, head coach Steve Nash put a kibosh on such rumors.

"There's no timetable for his return right now," Nash told reporters. "He's clearly got some markers to hit."

Nash added that Simmons hasn't begun to run or condition in his recovery process yet.

Charania reported that "Simmons has been ramping up his workload and is expected to continue doing so," adding that he and the team were "managing his back issue and have been on same page."

But Nash told reporters Simmons wasn't doing anything at full speed and all of his running was on an AlterG treadmill.

Simmons, 25, has yet to play this season. After asking the Philadelphia 76ers for a trade in the summer that didn't transpire, he remained away from the team, citing mental health issues. He was ultimately traded to the Brooklyn Nets in February in the deal that sent James Harden back to Philly.

But Simmons has yet to play for the Nets, as a herniated disc in his lower back has kept him sidelined. He received an epidural in March, according to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski.

The fact that Simmons will have missed the entire regular season and play-in tournament makes it hard to imagine he'll play a major role for the Nets in the postseason, even if he is able to return. Coming in cold in such important games is a big ask.

The last time Simmons played, he passed up an open dunk in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, a game and series the Sixers ultimately lost to the Atlanta Hawks. It's hard to imagine Simmons wouldn't be feeling the pressure if the next time he played were in a crucial playoff game a year later, with teammates he's mostly never shared a court with in his career.

Especially when you consider that Simmons is a pretty unique player who is a fantastic passer and defensive player but seriously hurts a team's spacing in the half-court offense. Will the Nets be able to pair him with a true center like Andre Drummond without allowing teams to pack the paint?

Suffice to say, the Nets have very little reason to rush him back, given all of the factors above. And even if he does return, it's likely going to be in a reserve role. First things first, of course—the Nets have to make it through the play-in. Then they can worry about potentially working Simmons into the swing of things.