Nets' Ben Simmons Out vs. Kevin Durant, Suns With Knee Injury 1 Game After Return

Ben Simmons' return was short-lived.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic and Stadium, Simmons will miss Wednesday's game between the Brooklyn Nets and Phoenix Suns because of a left knee contusion. Charania noted he "developed swelling" because of a hit to his knee during Monday's game against the Utah Jazz, which was his first time on the floor since Nov. 6.

Fortunately for the Nets, tests showed no additional damage.

It also doesn't seem like this will be a long absence:

This comes after Simmons impressed in his first game back in more than two months with a double-double of 10 points, 11 assists and eight rebounds behind 5-of-5 shooting from the field.

There was a time in the LSU product's career where an absence would be quite the blow for his team, but this has become the norm of late. He sat out the 2021-22 campaign in part because of a back injury and played 42 games last season.

Simmons, who also missed his first campaign in the NBA in 2016-17 because of a foot injury, hasn't played more than 58 games in a season since the 2018-19 one.

He was a three-time All-Star, the Rookie of the Year and two-time All-Defensive selection during his time on the Philadelphia 76ers but has been more of a secondary contributor for the Nets when he is on the floor.

He averaged 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game last season, although he has taken strides in his seven games in 2023-24 with averages of 7.0 points, 10.4 rebounds and 7.3 assists. Even though Simmons isn't someone who consistently looks for his shot or attacks on the offensive end, he can still impact the game in a number of ways.

Brooklyn will likely turn toward Dennis Smith Jr. and Lonnie Walker IV even more off the bench with Simmons unavailable against the Suns.

It remains to be seen when he will return, but the Nets do have two days off before Saturday's matchup against his former team in Philadelphia.