Ben Simmons Will Not Return In Game 4 After All

After rumors that he will make his on-court return in Game 4, Ben Simmons won't make his Brooklyn Nets debut after all. According to Shams Charania, the Nets have listed Simmons as out for Brooklyn's do-or-die game versus the Boston Celtics on Monday.

Nets are listing Ben Simmons as OUT for Game 4 vs. Celtics. A surprise as Simmons had been expected to play Monday as long as rehab was on course.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) April 24, 2022

Previous reports indicated Simmons will finally make his return in Game 4. However, as reported by ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski, the lefty woke up with back soreness on Sunday.

ESPN Sources: The Nets and Ben Simmons expected he would be ready to play on Monday, but after getting on the court yesterday Simmons says he awoke with back soreness today. In the end, the team and Simmons agreed he'll remain out for Game 4.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) April 24, 2022

Indiana Pacers legend and Hall of Famer Reggie Miller did not hold back his disgust on Simmons when the report came out.

Cmon MAN!!! Out for Game 4 when it was rumored you were going to make your debut. This dude has ZERO competitive 🔥.. As small a chance as the Nets have to come back in this series, you still have KD and Kyrie, all you need is to win ONE game and take it from there.. #ManUp pic.twitter.com/Y5smcnQkqZ
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) April 24, 2022

You can't really blame Miller. Nets fans probably feel the same way.

Simmons has cited back problems and mental health as his reasons for not suiting up for the Nets this season. He has been working his way back to basketball shape. But it seems like he isn't ready to play just yet, especially in an intense setting in the postseason.

Brooklyn acquired Simmons at the trade deadline and shipped James Harden to Philadelphia. In addition to the Aussie, they also received Seth Curry and Andre Drummond, both of whom have assumed starting roles for the Nets.

The Nets are on the brink of elimination after they fell to the Celtics in Game 3, 109-103. There's no knowing how the 3-time All-Star looks right now. But Simmons could have at least given Brooklyn a new dynamic for Game 4 with his playmaking and defense.