Ben Simmons Has Nerve Issue in Lower Back in Concerning Injury Update for 76ers
The Philadelphia 76ers are currently the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference, and are attempting to move up in the standings before the playoffs begin.
That task has gotten a bit more difficult with the news that Ben Simmons has a nerve issue in his back and will be out a minimum of two weeks, at which point he'll be re-evaluated, according to The Athletic's Shams Charania.
Tests on 76ers star Ben Simmons revealed he suffered nerve impingement in lower back and he will be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks, league sources tell @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 25, 2020
Having any injury at this point in the year is bad news. The fact it is a nerve issue is concerning in that this could be a lingering issue for an unknown length of time.
Simmons can't play with nerve pain in his back, and it appears he will be out for longer than two weeks, if that is the timeframe for his re-evaluation.
Ben Simmons will be re-evaluated in 2 weeks for nerve impingement in lower back, but there's little expectation that he'd be ready to return to lineup that soon, sources tell ESPN. Doctors are hopeful treatment can drive improvement, but Sixers are preparing to play without him.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 25, 2020
Simmons is averaging over 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game this season. He has been a regular starter, and his absence will be noticeable for a team that has had an up and down year.
The 76ers have spent years building a team to make a deep run in the postseason. This injury could serve as yet another unfortunate setback to the master plan known as "The Process."