Ben Simmons returns to Nets after four-game injury absence

DALLAS – Ben Simmons rejoined the Nets on Monday and was expected to play against the Mavericks in limited minutes and in a to-be-determined role after missing four games with a swollen left knee. 

“I’ll be in,” Simmons said after shootaround at SMU. “I think I’ve got like 20 minutes. I feel great. It took a few days to get some rehab in, get it right. So I’m feeling great.” 

Simmons bounced around between positions before he hurt his knee, even playing center at times when the Nets went small. How will he be used? 

“That’s going to be something to be determined,” acting coach Jacque Vaughn said. “I think a big piece of it is seeing Seth [Curry] and see how he fits in with Joe [Harris] and Royce [O’Neale] and our wings, how we still continue to use the energy group that was David Duke and (Edmond) Sumner off the bench. So I still want to reward those guys for their effort. But it’d really be to be determined how we fit it all together.” 

Simmons said he hadn’t had extensive conversations with Vaughn about how he is going to be deployed. 

“Not too much,” Simmons said. “But I think it’s going to be similar overall. Coming in with that second unit, and pushing the ball and getting those guys going. Just getting a pace to it, keeping that pace overall. So I don’t mind being off the ball, wherever the team needs me to be and whatever’s going to help this team win. I’m willing to do that.” 

The Nets went into Monday having won two in a row, both on the road. They played their fourth game under Vaughn and third without the suspended Kyrie Irving. 

Simmons was back in Brooklyn during the Nets’ victories in Washington and Charlotte. In six games before the injury, he averaged 6.2 points, 7.3 assists and 6.5 rebounds in nearly 32 minutes per game.  

After missing all last season with back and mental health issues, Simmons was still rounding into shape when his knee injury happened. 

“I don’t want to make that an excuse, but I had a swollen knee,” Simmons said. “It is what it is, but it’s taken care of now, so I’m glad I’m moving. I think overall if you have something you’re doing on your left side, it typically affects your right side. I had a lower right back injury, so it’s probably a part to it. But as time goes on. I need to stay on my strength in terms of left and right knee. And then, obviously, continue to do the work I’ve been doing on my back.” 

Simmons sounded as if he knows the back and possibly the knee are issues he’s going to have to manage all season. 

“I think you know as an athlete your whole body you kind of have to manage, even with my back, something I continue to work on,” he said. “But obviously coming back I know there’s going to be different quirks and things like that with my body that I have to maintain and stay on top of. It’s been a while since I’ve played, especially this many minutes and back-to-backs and things like that. So just adjusting and staying on top of it.” 

(BOLD) Durant honored. (END) Kevin Durant was named the Eastern Conference player of the week for the period ending Sunday. In four games, three of them wins, Durant averaged 30.8 points, 8.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists and 1.8 blocks in 36.9 minutes. It’s the fourth time he’s won the award as a Net and 30th overall.

By Anthony Rieber

anthony.rieber@newsday.comAnthonyRieber

Anthony Rieber covers sports media and business and professional sports (you know, games and trades and things). He has worked at Newsday since Aug. 31, 1998, and has been in his current position since Jan. 1, 2026.