Ben Simmons could return for the Brooklyn Nets on MONDAY as star plans to practice with their G League team at the weekend after lengthy absence with back issue

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons appears to be finally returning to action and will practice with the team’s G League affiliate this weekend.

The plan currently is for Simmons to practice with Long Island this weekend at the Nets’ HHS team facility and if all goes well, he could be back on the court on Monday against the Utah Jazz.

If he doesn’t return Monday, Simmons could step back on the court Wednesday against the Phoenix Suns or Saturday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Simmons has been out since November 6 due to a nerve infarction in his lower back.

Before suffering his latest injury, Simmons was averaging 6.5 points, 10.8 rebounds and 6.7 assists while shooting 52.8 percent from the field.

Simmons will practice with the Nets G League team this weekend and may play next week

Simmons also dealt with injury issues during his time with the Philadelphia 76ers, missing his entire 2016–17 season with a foot injury after being drafted No. 1 overall that same year.

He also missed the entire 2021-2022 season due to an issue during a contract dispute with the 76ers.

Simmons hasn’t played more than 58 games since the 2018-19 season, when he played in 79 games for the 76ers.

Simmons has been out since November 6 due to nerve damage in his lower back

Last season with the Nets, he made just 42 appearances before ultimately being sidelined for the remainder of the campaign.

Brooklyn has struggled lately without Simmons available and currently has a 17-26 record and is 11th in the Eastern Conference.

The Nets have lost 11 of their last 13 games and recently suffered a 108-103 loss to the New York Knicks, which led small forward Mikal Bridges to complain that the Barclays Center sounded like an away game.

Brooklyn’s next chance to work on ending their losing streak is Thursday night against the Minnesota Timberwolves.