When will ben simmons return?

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Ben Simmons couldn’t be happier in Brooklyn.

Unlike his tenure in Philadelphia, the 25-year-old is actually showing up to his games and talking to the media.

“Its going to be scary,” Simmons said, referring to playing with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

“Multiple different weapons on the floor. At the pace we want to play at, it’s going to be unreal.”

However, Simmons hasn’t played all season long or 54 games (and counting). More specifically, he hasn’t logged a minute since Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals back in mid-June.

So when will he? But more importantly, can he?

In short – it’s complicated.

Rich Paul, Simmons’ agent, admitted that his client has some work to do with respect to his conditioning.

“We’ve got to work to do to get him back to play,” Paul said. “But it’s great step in the right direction.”

However, unlike James Harden, the three-time all-star is only 25 years old. So, it shouldn’t take long to for him to get back into shape.

In addition, Simmons wasn’t just resting throughout his absence. According to ESPN’S Brian Windhorst, Simmons was working out in Philadelphia and “looks great.”

Simmons also told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarsowki that he is “ramping up” his conditioning in order to return this season.

Yet, the exact date is ambiguous. In fact, Simmons told the media that he doesn’t have a “date yet.”

If Simmons wants to make a star-studded return, he will most likely play on Feb. 26th against the reigning NBA champions, the Milwaukee Bucks. Or if he wants to keep it lowkey, the Nets also play the Raptors in back-to back-games two days after facing the Bucks

But there is one game that fans (and Simmons himself) really want him to play in – a primetime match-up against the 76ers on March 10th.