National Basketball Association

Ben Simmons Injury: Philadelphia 76ers Star Breaks Foot

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The string of bad luck continues for the Philadelphia 76ers, as Ben Simmons, their rookie phenom, has broken his foot.

A Ben Simmons injury isn’t part of anyone’s process, but unfortunately it’s part of life for the Philadelphia 76ers, as Bob Cooney of the Daily News has reported that the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft has fractured the fifth metatarsal in his right foot.

The 6-foot-10 small forward out of LSU was supposed to bring some life back to a franchise that has been stuck in the doldrums for the last four seasons. They’ve had high-profile draft picks get injured before, with Nerlens Noel, Joel Embiid and Jahlil Okafor all suffering through their own respective injuries.

Simmons was a beast at LSU, a phenom in every sense of the word, averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists, drawing heady comparisons to LeBron James and Magic Johnson. NBA.com touted him as having a “high basketball IQ” as well as being an “unselfish playmaker,” which adds credence to the LeBron/Magic claims.

Winning just 47 games in the last three seasons, the 76ers have to feel completely devastated by the news (as is everyone in the basketball realm). From here, the team will have to rely upon a combination of players to fill Simmons shoes, including newcomer Dario Saric. Robert Covington and Jerami Grant will also likely get some run in the frontcourt.

Foot injuries in basketball players can range from career-altering (such as Yao Ming or Bill Walton) to something that sets a player back but ultimately can be overcome (most recently, Kevin Durant). There is no timetable for Simmons return at this point, but we’re all hoping for the latter scenario.