Now before we begin here it’s important to note that, for the time being, this is nothing but pure speculation. But as the day wears on, more and more major sports outlets are running with the yarn, all citing “reputable” and “reliable” NBA sources. So for whatever it’s worth, it’s growing speculation.
The huge news brewing today is that Aussie young gun and the Philadelphia 76ers prized number one draft pick Ben Simmons is on the verge of sitting out the entire upcoming NBA season on advice from his agent, Rich Paul.
Simmons suffered a broken foot after landing on a team mate’s foot at Sixers training camp a few days ago. Almost immediately, the Sixers announced that the fracture was “acute” and would require surgery to fix. They very deliberately used the word “acute” in an attempt to quash speculation that the break was caused by stress on his bones from the, reported, 33-odd pounds (around 13 kilos) the former LSU standout has put on since being taken first overall in the draft.
The fracture, which is a metatarsal fracture, is an utter jerk to heal (particularly for a bloke his size) and even after surgery would put Simmons out for 3 months, minimum, assuming his recovery went according to plan.
The Sixers insisted they would be taking a cautious approach to Simmons’ rehab, but today the good word is that Rich Paul has advised his client to sit out the entire 2016-17 NBA season.
Reporter Bob Cooney of the Philadelphia Daily News appeared on local Philly-area radio a few hours ago, and cited an unnamed person who he “really trusts” in the NBA in claiming that Simmons will not play a single minute this year.
“I just got off the phone with somebody who I really trust in the NBA, and he’s like there’s no way his agent is going to let him play this year. That’s an injury that you don’t mess around with, and he thinks he’s going to keep him off his feet all year.”
On the one hand, this is a big blow to Philadelphia’s season campaign as the franchise attempts to pick itself up off the canvas. And this goes doubly so for a lot of flow-on effects Simmons would have brought in this year like ticket and merchandise sales; both things that will cool off (or not get quite as hot as they would’ve been) with Simmons off the court.
But the flipside is that, particularly given Simmons is young and still growing, a metatarsal fracture is not to be fucked with. Kevin Durant‘s 2014-15 season was derailed by a similar foot injury that required 3 surgeries inside 6 months, and limited him to just 27 games for the year.
Paul, who also manages Simmons’ gr8 m8 LeBron James, advising Simmons to sit out the year might be the smart move overall, frankly. For starters it doesn’t derail any push for Rookie of the Year honours that an injury-riddled first year might have.
But secondly, and perhaps most importantly of all, it ensures Simmons’ career doesn’t start on a question mark; one that neither Simmons, nor the Sixers, can afford to answer.
Source: NBC Sports.
Photo: Nick Laham/Getty.
