When will Ben Simmons play? Potential Timeframe for Nets to Launch After Commercial Blockbuster 76ers

Ben Simmons got his wish. After 54 games, Simmons was eliminated from the 76ers. Simmons’ new destination?

Nets, as he reported was traded in a package that sent former MVP James Harden to the Sixers.

James Harden-Ben Simmons transaction: Details | Levels

While Simmons is certainly a worthy return for Harden, his ability to have an immediate impact on the Nets franchise is a bit more complicated than what is seen.

Since Simmons has focused the entire 2021-22 NBA season, he hasn’t logged a minute in an NBA game since Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals on June 20, 2021.

That said, the Simmons game prep will be an uphill battle, so when will he launch the Nets?

NBA LEAGUE PASS: Sign up to unlock live out-of-market games (7 days free trial)

When will Ben Simmons come out for the Nets?

In short: it’s complicated, but it’s safe to assume that Simmons’ debut won’t come after the February 20 All-Star game.

Brooklyn has five games scheduled between the trading deadline and All-Star Weekend. After the All-Star break, the Nets will be back up and running on Thursday, February 24, exactly two weeks after trading.

It’s been almost eight months since Simmons last played in an NBA game. He made a brief appearance at Sixers training camp in October, but even that was short-lived.

According to ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons has begun to “enhance” the air conditioning to prepare to return to play this season.

Ben Simmons spoke to Kevin Durant and Sean Marks, @KlutchSports‘Rich Paul told ESPN. Simmons is eager to join the Nets and is set to return to play this season, Paul said. “We have to work to get him back in action, but it’s a great step in the right direction.”

– Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 10, 2022

While Simmons agent Rich Paul acknowledges that there is more work to be done on his condition, it is fair to assume that a return is imminent.

Before the deal was finalized, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said on the podcast “The Hoop Collective” that “I spoke to someone who recently saw Ben Simmons doing good work. He was training in Philadelphia,” adding that “I heard he looks great.”

Simmons, 25, is one of the NBA’s most gifted athletes and, considering his activity reports, it shouldn’t take long for a young athlete of his caliber to start. competition.

There are a number of parallels to draw with Kyrie Irving’s situation.

Irving went six-and-a-half months without action in the NBA, as his part-time condition forced him off the team from mid-October until mid-December when he was allowed to rejoin. .

It’s worth noting that Irving was included in the league’s health and safety regulations shortly after he returned to the team but his debut came 18 days after rejoining the team.

That said, a two-week timeline for a return to action for Simmons doesn’t seem out of the realm of possibility.

Nets schedule 2021-22