Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons underwent surgery in October to repair a Jones fracture in his right foot that occurred during the preseason. Now, the No. 1 overall pick from the 2016 NBA Draft is back on the floor and doing drills, according to a report from CSN Philly.
Simmons, 20, had a screw placed in his foot after the surgery and has said before that there is no official timetable for his return.
Via CSN Philly:
“To even see him today go through five-on-zero stuff, not a lot, not at a hundred percent, but with us in a 76ers uniform, the gym got a lift, you could feel it,” Brett Brown said.
Simmons ran the point, according to Joel Embiid. The first overall pick entered the NBA as a point-forward, and Brown has said he intends to play Simmons at the one.
Brown described Simmons’ participation as “light script work” — going at 80 percent. It included passing, running plays and communicating.
“Albeit small, it’s the first time he’s done that and it was great to have him,” Brown said.
Simmons apparently did most of his work playing the point, which Joel Embiid enjoyed very much saying, “I think he did a good job for someone who hasn’t been around. He knew the plays, and I was happy to be on the floor with him.”
The Sixers are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference again this season and have had some issues with their lineups, including a disgruntled Nerlens Noel and recent DNP-CDs for Jahlil Okafor.
Adding Simmons back to the mix would be great for them as they try to assess their true needs heading into the 2017 NBA Draft.
