Steve Nash: Still No Timeframe For Ben Simmons’ Nets Debut

Ben Simmons has yet to take the court in practice so it remains hard to know when he will make his Nets — and season — debut, coach Steve Nash told reporters.

“He’s still going through all his assessments and his prep work with the performance team and trying to assess this layoff and make a plan and the forming and beginning steps of that plan,” Nash said, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“I don’t know that they’re there yet, but it’ll be very similar to that. He gets back on the court, we continue the assessment process. When he reaches barriers, we allow more until he’s crossed the line on all the different parameters and consecutive high intensity workouts where our performance team trusts he’s safe enough not only to perform but recover and to withstand the demands of the game.”

Simmons was acquired as part of the James Harden blockbuster deal with the 76ers at the trade deadline. He had been sitting out the season with the Sixers, citing mental health issues. Otherwise, Simmons is perfectly healthy physically.

As it stands, neither Simmons nor Harden have played for their new teams yet. But as far as Simmons is concerned, Nash said it’s not a lack of want-to.

“He’s excited at the opportunity, and he sees that he can really be a good fit with this group and the style of play,” Nash said. “Not only is he hungry to play basketball again, but he also sees a real opportunity to play his best basketball in this environment.”

Along with having Simmons join the lineup, the Nets are expected to get back Kevin Durant soon after the All-Star break, as we relayed earlier.