MY ACCOUNT
Brooklyn Nets head coach Steve Nash has confirmed Ben Simmons will be with the team on the bench for Thursday’s return game against the Philadelphia 76ers.
Simmons is expected to receive a frosty reception from the 76ers fans at the Wells Fargo Center as he returns for the first time since last month’s trade to the Nets.
The point guard had a major fallout with the 76ers after a nightmare playoffs period, leading to him requesting a trade and opting not to play all season until a trade was finalised in February.
Nash said Simmons, who is yet to debut for Brooklyn, will not play for the Nets on Thursday but will be in attendance with the team which he felt he needed to get out of the way.
“It’s great,” Nash told reporters prior to Tuesday’s game against the Charlotte Hornets.
“He’s on our team, he needs to be with his teammates and get the whole Philly thing out of the way a little bit. Maybe it never goes away, but the first time it’s always nice to kind of deal with it and move on.”
He added: “I don’t think he’s naive to think he’s not going to get some boos. I hope he enjoys it. It’s a part of the game I miss.”
Simmons has not played since his trade due to a back complaint which has hampered his ability to get reconditioned to game standard having not played all season.
Nash was not clear-cut on Simmons’ likely debut, with the Australian still not cleared to practice.
“It’s to be determined,” Nash said. “I think he’s progressing this week, but I don’t know what that means as far as Saturday.
“He’ll see us [Wednesday] in Philly. I don’t think he’s ready for 5-on-5 basketball but he’s improving, working out, and he’ll join us in Philly, and a few good days of rehab.”
