Report: Simmons expected to return from back injury if season resumes

The Philadelphia 76ers should be at full force if the NBA season returns.

The organization is "expecting to have" star point guard Ben Simmons featured in the lineup if the campaign resumes, a source told ESPN's Jackie MacMullan.

Simmons has been sidelined since Feb. 22 due to a nerve impingement in his lower back. That injury has "all but dissipated," according to MacMullan.

The two-time All-Star is averaging 16.7 points, 8.2 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game while shooting 58.5% from the field in 54 games this season.

Much maligned for his hesitance to shoot 3-pointers, Simmons was apparently going to be "more proactive" with his shot selection before his injury forced him out of action, 76ers head coach Brett Brown told MacMullan.

"I feel like I want to take (threes) now as opposed to being asked to force them up," Simmons said prior to his injury. "It could be during the playoffs. I've prepped so much for it, when I do it, it will work.

"I could be one of those guys shooting 30% right now. But I'd rather be one of those guys shooting 40%," Simmons added.

Simmons has attempted six 3-pointers this season, draining two of them.