Brooklyn Nets confirm Ben Simmons has herniated disc that could end his NBA season

Ben Simmons's back injury has been confirmed as a herniated disc, though Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash still believes the guard can play this NBA season.

Simmons had an epidural recently that Nash said he believed had relieved some of the pain in the three-time All Star's back.

Nash revealed the epidural last week, but had not disclosed the nature of Simmons' injury until Tuesday (AEDT), when he confirmed a report by The Athletic.

The Brooklyn coach had previously only said pain in Simmons's back flared up some time after the Nets acquired him from Philadelphia on February 10.

«I'm not sure when they recognised it was beyond like a regular back flare-up and a herniated disc or whatnot,» Nash said before the Nets played the Utah Jazz.

He said the herniated disc is an injury Simmons had earlier in his career.

Simmons is not even practising but Nash has not given up hope the former number one pick can get on the court this season.

«Yeah, I don't think it changes the outcome necessarily. We still have high hopes that he can come back,» Nash said.

«He's had moments during his rehab where he's on the court doing some things and it looks like he's about to turn a corner and then there's a little setback.

»So I still feel optimistic that he can play for us."

Time is running out, though.

The Nets have only 10 games left after the Jazz clash, followed by perhaps one or two in the play-in tournament it appears they will have to get through to reach the playoffs.

Nash said he would be keen to introduce Simmons into the line-up no matter how late in the season he shakes off his back issues, despite being inactive all season.

«I think if he's able to get back to playing, I think we'd want to incorporate him at any point,» he said.

Nash said he