On Tuesday, March 28, Shams Charania of The Athletic announced in a tweet that Brooklyn Nets’ Ben Simmons has been ruled out for the remainder of the 2022-2023 season. He made the announcement citing the coach of the Nets, Jacque Vaughn. Simmons has already been out for quite some time due to a knee injury.
Since the announcement, many fans of the player and the team have been demanding to know the exact reason behind the Nets’ decision to shut down Simmons. In this article, however, we’ll tell you why the 26-year-old small forward had to be shut down by his team.
Why the Brooklyn Nets ruled out Ben Simmons for the season
Charania pointed out in his tweet that Simmons would have to begin a rehabilitation session to correct a problem with his back. This adds to Nets’ announcement last week that Simmons has been diagnosed with a nerve impingement in his back. Despite the fact that the player has long been out due to other injuries, the decision to rule him out for the season is mainly because of the nerve impingement problem he currently has with his back.
What is Nerve Impingement?
Nerve impingement occurs when a nerve in the body is compressed by surrounding tissues. These tissues could be bones, cartilage, muscles, or tendons. This compression can lead to pain, numbness, tingling, weakness, or a burning sensation in the affected area. The condition is also known as nerve compression or pinched nerve.
Nerve impingement can occur in any part of the body. But it is most commonly seen in the neck, back, arms, and legs. Some common causes of the condition include herniated discs, spinal stenosis, arthritis, muscle imbalances, and repetitive motions.
Treatment involves physical therapy, medication, or surgery to address the underlying cause of compression. According to Cleveland Clinic, untreated cases of nerve impingement can lead to long-term nerve damage.
NBA stars who suffered nerve impingement in the past
- Steve Nash: The former NBA point guard and two-time MVP suffered from nerve root irritation in his back, which caused him to miss significant time during the 2008-2009 season.
- Dwight Howard: The veteran center has dealt with nerve impingement in his lower back at various points throughout his career, including during his time with the Los Angeles Lakers.
- Kyrie Irving: The former Brooklyn Nets guard suffered from a pinched nerve in his neck during the 2019-2020 season, causing him to miss significant time. Irving currently plays for the Dallas Mavericks.
- Joel Embiid: The 76ers power forward suffered from a pinched nerve in his back during the 2019-2020 season, which caused him to miss several games.
- Mike Conley: The Utah Jazz guard dealt with a pinched nerve in his neck during the 2019-2020 season, which caused him to miss significant time.
Meanwhile, Simmons has become the latest addition to players who have been ruled out fo the season due to injuries. These players include Lonzo Ball and LaMelo Ball of the Bulls and the Hornets respectively.
Source: NBARepublic.com
