Ben out for season, boomers? retirement?

Ben Simmons' future with the Boomers is looking bleak, especially with his recent announcement of being sidelined for the rest of the season due to a persistent back injury. With only four months until the Summer Olympics in Paris, it's highly unlikely he'll be fit to compete.

This raises the question: how have we ended up here again, despite the Nets, Ben, and his team having ample resources?

It's baffling how he went from being cleared to play and looking like his ‘old self’ in the offseason/preseason to only lasting 15 games.

It seems his medical team might be leading him down a path destined for mid-season failure, turning him into a target for criticism, or perhaps he's just incredibly unlucky with injuries.

The way his injuries are triggered each season remains a mystery and for this Ben is constantly facing criticism, which is probably not his fault.

Next season is the last on his current contract, and it might be his final season as a professional basketball player. In interviews this year, he mentioned considering retirement after grappling with his back issues.

Unless he can participate in a significant number of games next season, his prospects for a new contract seem dim. Teams might be hesitant to offer him a long-term contract or big money due to the risk involved.

For Australian basketball fans, the disappointment is that we may never see him play for the Boomers on the Olympic stage, and missing the opportunity to see him alongside current legends like Patty Mills.

Wishing Ben all the best in his recovery journey. May he find the right treatment and return to the court as the player he knows he can be.