Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons will remain in Brooklyn to focus on his rehab from his back injury, according to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps. Simmons’ 2022-2023 season ended prematurely because of a nerve impingement in his back that was causing him pain and making his return to play longer than anticipated.

This means that Simmons will not give fans of the Philadelphia 76ers a chance to boo him on Saturday as the Nets visit Philadelphia for Game 1 of their first-round series. This will be a rematch of the 2019 Eastern Conference Playoffs between the two teams when Simmons was playing for the 76ers.

Simmons played in just 42 of a possible 82 games this season because of various injuries mostly related to his back and knees. When Simmons did play, he was ineffective as all of his numbers this season were significantly below his career averages except for field-goal shooting percentage. Simmons did not play last season because of a holdout while he was with Philadelphia. After being traded to Brooklyn in the James Harden deal, Simmons underwent back surgery to get him ready for this season.

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said Ben Simmons will remain here to rehab, but that the rest of Brooklyn’s roster is healthy and ready to go for Saturday’s Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers. Vaughn is excited about his team’s week of preparation and believes the Nets are ready.

— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) April 14, 2023