Ben Simmons faces foot D-Day with scan

Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown says he wants to see his rookie Australian star player play this NBA season and should learn more after a scan tomorrow.

Ben Simmons answers questions during an interview

Australian basketball prodigy Ben Simmons will undergo scans on his fractured foot. (AAP)

Australian basketball prodigy Ben Simmons is facing decision day.

The 20-year-old Simmons is likely to learn on Thursday (Friday AEDT) if he will be cleared to play for the Philadelphia 76ers this NBA season.

Simmons will undergo a CT scan on the right foot he fractured during the 76ers' pre-season training camp in September and the team's doctors will then decide the timeline for his return.

"I feel like tomorrow at some point we're all going to be able to lay out a more genuine plan for him," 76ers coach Brett Brown told reporters on Wednesday.

"I feel like we're going to be good to go with some greater news and a more advanced detail of his plans after this scan."

It has been a frustrating start for the Melbourne-born Simmons' professional basketball career after being selected by the 76ers as the No.1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft.

Brown, a former Boomers Olympic and NBL coach, wants to see Simmons on the court but there is speculation he could sit out the rest of the season to ensure his foot heals.

"I personally would like to see him play this season," Brown said.

"I don't backpedal from that and I think my comments are really very much influenced by his reciprocal desire to play this year, which we all respect.

"Everybody's got clandestine conspiracy theories on why he might not want to play.

"I know in my heart and speaking to him, he wants to get on a court and play basketball again.

"I hope he can do that to, but if he can't we will deal with it."


Share

2 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world