The Brooklyn Nets will reportedly have to chase an Eastern Conference play-in tournament spot without Ben Simmons.

Ian Begley of SNY noted the Nets said the 27-year-old will miss the rest of the 2023-24 campaign because of a nerve impingement in his lower back. He will explore treatment options with the hope of returning for the 2024-25 season.

Simmons hasn't played since a Feb. 26 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies and appeared in a total of 15 games this season.

He averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists in those contests.

There was reason for some optimism early in the season when he posted back-to-back double-doubles in October against the Dallas Mavericks and Charlotte Hornets. However, a back injury kept him sidelined from Nov. 6 until Jan. 29 before it became an issue again of late.

Injuries are nothing new for the LSU product, who missed his rookie season in 2016-17 because of foot concerns and sat out the entire 2021-22 campaign in part because of a back injury. He played 42 games for the Nets last season and hasn't appeared in more than 58 contests since 2018-19.

There was a time when Simmons seemed to be an important building block for the Philadelphia 76ers, who drafted him with the No. 1 overall pick in 2016.

He was a 2019-20 All-NBA Third-Team selection, a three-time All-Star and a two-time All-Defensive Team selection during his time with the 76ers, although injuries and an apparent unwillingness to consistently shoot on offense prevented him from fully living up to expectations.

Simmons has since struggled to establish himself with the Nets in large part because of those injuries.

As for Brooklyn, it is three games behind the Atlanta Hawks for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament but has played well of late with a 4-2 record in the last six games. It will look to continue building some momentum on Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.