Nets head coach Steve Nash confirmed reports that All-Star forward Ben Simmons is still dealing with mental health issues that have delayed his Brooklyn debut.
“I want to be careful here. I don’t want to overstate my understanding of the situation because I’m not in Ben’s shoes. That’s very important for me not to speak for Ben because I can’t relate to what he’s going through,” Nash said ahead of tipoff for Game 4 on Monday. “There is a mental component with everything. I think Ben has addressed that there is a mental component with what he’s going through. But how much and where he’s at with that is not for me to speak about.”
Nash said the organization is doing what it can to help Simmons, who cited mental health issues as he missed the entire first half of the season as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers, get back on the floor.
“We’re really pushing to support Ben in any way we can to help him improve physically and get back on the court, and the mental side of that is part of it,” Nash said. “They’re not separate. They’re not something that we don’t want to deal with. We want to help if he needs help in any aspect of his life and his game. He’s a cornerstone, so we want to help him feel great, play great and become a part of this team.”
Simmons and his agent Rich Paul met with Nets leadership Monday afternoon, according to ESPN, and spoke about the need for Simmons to continue improving not only his physical condition but also his mental standing. Simmons has been recovering from a herniated disk in his lower back and reportedly experienced back soreness Sunday morning, ruling him out of Monday’s Game 4. Simmons also reportedly told Nets brass he isn’t ruling out a return this season if the Nets survive beyond Monday’s elimination game with Boston entering with a 3-0 series lead.
Simmons is a three-time All-Star who has consistently ranked Top 20 in steals, assists, rebounds and field goal percentage. He has three years remaining on his contract, totaling $117 million in guaranteed salary.
In his introductory press conference after arriving in Brooklyn as part of the Feb. 10 James Harden trade, Simmons said outsiders often overlook the mental hurdles that come with playing pro basketball. Simmons said his mental health issues “piled up,” culminating with his poor performances in Games 5, 6 and 7 of the Sixers’ second-round playoff exit last season – an exit both head coach Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid pinned on Simmons for passing up an open layup on a game-swinging possession.
“I don’t think it was really (Game 7),” Simmons said during his intro presser. “(It was) a bunch of things that had gone on over the years to where I just knew I wasn’t myself and I needed to get back to that place of being myself and being happy as a person and taking care of my well-being. That was the major thing for me. It wasn’t about the basketball, it wasn’t about the money, anything like that. I wanted to be who I am and get back to playing basketball at that level and being myself.”
Simmons did not play upon arrival in Brooklyn because he was not in game shape after holding out while requesting a trade from the 76ers. While he ramped up his conditioning after the trade to the Nets, Simmons suffered a herniated disk and received an epidural to alleviate the pain in his lower back in mid-March.
Simmons progressed in his rehab and eventually experienced no pain in his back, but reportedly woke up sore on Sunday. He began practicing with contact on April 19 but has yet to fully practice five-on-five and has yet to practice with the teammates who receive regular playing time in Nash’s rotation.
