Ben Simmons has yet to make his NBA debut while recovering from a Jones fracture in his right foot. Joel Embiid, who missed his first two seasons with foot issues of his own, hasn’t played since Jan. 27 after suffering a minor meniscus tear in his left knee.
You know where this is going.
But fear not, Sixers peeps. Head coach Brett Brown envisions Simmons playing before the season is over, per ESPN.com’s Jeff Goodman:
Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown said he expects to have rookie and No. 1 draft pick Ben Simmons on the court in a game this season.
“Our plan is to still see him on the court, playing games,” Brown told ESPN on Wednesday. “We just don’t know when.
“I fully expect him to play this season. He thinks that, and he’s motivated to play.”
This is good news, because Embiid is also expected to play again this season, most likely following the All-Star break. And that, in turn, means we should get to see these two franchise saviors play together, the way Philly intended before Simmons needed surgery.
A lot can change between now and whenever the Sixers think Simmons will return—especially in their world, where injuries and the timelines on those injuries are utter mysteries. But, with Brown being so publicly optimistic, it seems a foregone conclusion that Simmons will see the court some time in the not-too-distant future. So here’s hoping no complications arise in Embiid’s recovery.
