NBA Insider Reveals "Realistic" Return Date For Ben Simmons

Will he or won't he? Everyone wants to know if Ben Simmons will make his Brooklyn Nets debut in the upcoming playoffs. NBA Insider Shams Charania said on The Pat McAfee Show today that Game 3 of the First Round is a "realistic" target.

"If the Nets win tonight they play Boston this weekend.. I think games 1 & 2 is too quick but after that I'd look for Ben Simmons to be back" ~@ShamsCharania #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/bii2yHMyo1
— WrestleMania Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 12, 2022

"He is, I'm told, very very confident that he'll be able to make a return at some point in the first-round series," said Charania.

Of course, the Nets have to advance out of the Play-In Tournament first, by beating either the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night, or, if they lose that one, they can get into the playoffs with a win on Friday over the winner of the Charlotte Hornets/Atlanta Hawks 9/10 seed game.

"If the Nets win tonight, they play Boston this weekend (in the first round)... I think Games 1 & 2 is too quick, but I definitely think after that is when the window for Ben Simmons' return starts opening up."

With the schedule they've got planned for Simmons this week, Charania figures about a week-and-a-half is the timeline for a return. “This week, I’m told, is when he’s gonna start ramping up and doing more,” Charania said. “Whether that’s sprinting and running and starting... to take contact. Once he gets past the contact stage... as long as there are no setbacks, he should be ready to go.”

Nets players have been challenging Ben Simmons in practice and Simmons’ confidence is at ‘an all-time high,’ per @ScoopB

“He walks around like he’s Jordan.” pic.twitter.com/SW1h8uTyA3
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) April 12, 2022