Ben Simmons Return to the Court Has Officially Been Announced

After almost a full year away from the court, the Ben Simmons drama is about to go full tilt.

Simmons sat out the entire season as a Sixer due to mental health issues and a desire to be traded. He got his wish but still wasn’t ready to play.

According to Shams Charania of The Athletic, the Brooklyn Nets guard finally plans to make his long-awaited Brooklyn Nets debut next week when they face the Boston Celtics in Game 4.

Brooklyn Nets three-time All-Star Ben Simmons plans to make his season debut in Game 4 vs. Boston on Monday as long as rehab remains on course, sources tell @TheAthletic @Stadium. Simmons is set to play his first game since June 2021.

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 21, 2022

Twitter reacted to the news:

Oooh. The big bad Ben Simmons. Just don’t pass the ball when Marcus Smart is under the basket. Lol https://t.co/46oHy1DztH

— 🎩The REAL Mike🎩 (@MikeDGreat1_) April 21, 2022

Don’t matter https://t.co/o5RdpjH9Wd

— #24 (@EyadYeah) April 21, 2022

If they get swept by Boston, Simmons will never hear the end of it. Ever. https://t.co/OlXTeOX4s9

— Matthew (@heyitsrealdeal) April 21, 2022

Does Steve Nash know this? https://t.co/YGtBGla96Q

— Sam ☘️🐐 (@S_Scott019) April 21, 2022

It's official!…sort of. I guess. We'll wait and see. https://t.co/jFa5uicBIB

— Green With Envy (@The617_) (@greenenvypod) April 21, 2022

Series could very well be over by that time. https://t.co/0ytKFbb0kK

— Matt ➐ (@mattyanksnets) April 21, 2022

A guy who spent a year off for his mental health and was DEEPLY bothered by the criticism he received in the playoffs last year coming back in a potential elimination scenario with no game-speed reps? Man oh man. https://t.co/p5vpBdTNhj

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) April 21, 2022

Steve Nash has consistently stressed that there’s no timeline for Simmons’ return and repeatedly told reporters that the 25-year-old still has to go through several stages of the ramp-up process before being cleared.  Nash shifted his tone a little and hinted that a return could be close.

“There’s no other way than him to say, ‘I’m ready,’” Nash said when asked about a timetable, per Nick Friedell of ESPN. “Especially after an absence this long. So whenever he is ready, it’s going to have to be on him to say, ‘ ‘I feel comfortable. I feel ready to go. I want to play and I want to contribute.’

Definitely interesting timing to let him make his debut.

Why not just roll him out  in Game 3?? We’ll see if he even plays in Game 4 if they lose Game 3.

Ben Simmons getting ready for Game 3 pic.twitter.com/gJgKQPifjV

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) April 21, 2022

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