The ‘ultimate goal’ for Ben Simmons as Brooklyn Nets give promising update on injured Australian

Time is working out on Ben Simmons and the Nets, however the staff hasn’t given up on him returning this season.

Despite Simmons having not performed since February 15, head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned earlier than Thursday’s 101-96 loss to the Kings at Barclays Center, “There is zero discussion about him not playing. We expect him to be back, we’re waiting for him to be back.”

Vaughn added that Simmons, who has been coping with each knee and again soreness, has returned to engaged on the court docket — although the coach declined to debate any specifics about what Simmons was doing or a possible timeline for his return to sport motion.

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The staff has simply 12 video games remaining, however Vaughn insisted he was inspired by the progress Simmons has product of late.

“He’s just trying to get to a place where he feels good and he feels good back on the court, and get to a place where he’s not having soreness or inflammation and he’s ready to hoop,’’ Vaughn said.

“We want him back to hoop, he wants to be back to hoop, and that is definitely the goal.”

Asked if he anticipated Simmons to return this season, Vaughn mentioned, “We’re definitely operating with that belief.”

The staff has been inspired by the very fact Simmons hasn’t gone backward, bodily, of late.

“He’s had no setbacks,’’ Vaughn said.

“He’s progressing. It’s great to see him doing some work on the court right now. As more dates [for activity] come, I’ll give them to you guys, but it’s good to see him back on the court, getting work in.”

Asked for an outline of what, precisely, Simmons is doing when he’s on the court docket as he makes an attempt to play once more, Vaughn responded, “I’m just gonna say ‘on court,’ so we have no interpretation of how many people are on the court, how many balls are on the court [or] how many defenders.”

As as to whether there was a possible return date set, Vaughn once more mentioned, “There’s no timetable for him. The ultimate goal is we don’t have a recurrence. We get feedback every time he’s on the floor, what strengthening he has done on both his back and his knee, and he’s had no setbacks, which is good.”

It’s unclear precisely how extreme the soreness and irritation has been for Simmons, although Vaughn mentioned the 6-foot-11 Simmons has skilled discomfort in each areas.

This is the fourth — and longest — stretch of video games the 26-year-old has missed this season.

This article first appeared on The New York Postand was reproduced with permission.