Nets reverse course, rule Ben Simmons out for Game 4 vs. Celtics

The debut of Ben Simmons with the Brooklyn Nets may not happen this season, after all.

After previously targeting Game 4 as the date for his highly anticipated return to the court, the Nets are now ruling Simmons out for the Monday matchup, according to Shams Charania of The Athletic. With Brooklyn down 3-0 in the series, that could mean that Simmons is out of action until the 2022-23 season.

Simmons, 25, was traded to the Nets in February as part of a blockbuster deal that sent James Harden to the Philadelphia 76ers. The three-time All-Star point guard still hasn't played for Brooklyn due to a herniated disk in his back. Prior to the trade, Simmons sat out the first three months of the season after requesting a trade from the 76ers in the offseason.

On Friday, Simmons spoke to reporters and said he felt confident that his first minutes with the Nets wouldn't come with growing pains.