No Ben Simmons for the arrival of Kevin Durant's Suns. After making a resounding comeback against Jazz with 10 points, 11 assists and 8 rebounds, the great Australian leader is already back in the infirmary! This time, it's not because of his back, but his left knee.
After a knee-to-knee collision with Talen Horton-Tucker, his joint swelled, and he had to have an MRI. Good news, there is no injury, and it's just a blow. But it is enough for the knee to swell, and therefore remove it from the field.
“It’s a small inflammation” confirmed his agent Bernard Lee on Twitter. “As the next game is in three days, the Nets felt it was prudent to rest him. That way, he can continue to work to get back to 10/10 form.”
Hope and resilience
Comments confirmed by Jacque Vaughn, who assures that this injury is only a matter of a few days. Even if it looks a lot like the Coué Method.
“If I ask our players to remain hopeful and resilient, then I must do the same” explains Vaughn about the situation. “I firmly believe that Ben will play regularly for us. I have to continue to believe in it. You've seen the impact he has on our team when he plays. It was obvious and crystal clear. “That’s why I can’t wait for him to overcome this inflammation and get back on the field with us.”
| Ben Simmons | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 81 | 34 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 56.0 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 15.8 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 79 | 34 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 16.9 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 57 | 35 | 58.0 | 28.6 | 62.1 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 16.4 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 58 | 32 | 55.7 | 30.0 | 61.3 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 42 | 26 | 56.6 | 0.0 | 43.9 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| 2023-24 | BRK | 7 | 30 | 58.5 | 0.0 | 25.0 | 3.0 | 7.4 | 10.4 | 7.3 | 2.7 | 0.6 | 2.1 | 0.9 | 7.0 |
| Total | 324 | 33 | 56.0 | 13.9 | 59.0 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.9 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 14.6 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
