Ben Simmons shut down by Brooklyn Nets for rest of the season, back injury, update, reaction, knee

It was always seemingly heading this way and perhaps Zach Lowe, senior writer for ESPN, said it best on Wednesday morning.

“I long ago operated under the assumption we would not see Ben Simmons until next year,” Lowe said on ‘NBA Today’.

“So it barely even registered on my Twitter and it’s just sad.”

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Once again, Simmons finds himself at a crossroads. Initially there was optimism that the departure of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving opened up an opportunity for Simmons to make strides — and mistakes — without the same intense spotlight at Brooklyn.

But instead, the 26-year-old’s season came to a premature end, with the Nets confirming on Wednesday…