More details continue to emerge about the fractured foot suffered by No. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons, and they’re none too encouraging.
The Sixers announced on Tuesday that Simmons underwent successful surgery to repair an acute Jones fracture of the fifth metatarsal in his right foot. There is currently no timetable for his return to the court.
The LSU product was hurt in a team scrimmage last week when he rolled his ankle landing on another player’s foot. While earlier reports suggested that Simmons might miss three months of action, dealing with a Jones fracture is a much dicier issue.
As opposed to an avulsion fracture, which had initially been speculated for Simmons, a Jones fracture occurs further up the bone in an area that receives less blood flow and thus takes longer to heal. It’s also the same ailment that caused Kevin Durant to miss 55 games in the 2014-15 season.
Simmons’ 6-foot-10 frame heightens the level of concern that comes with such an injury as well, so it seems likely that the Sixers will exercise extreme caution in the recovery process of their prized young forward.
