Bryan Colangelo: Surgery ‘likely' Required for Ben Simmons' Foot Injury

CAMDEN, N.J. -- Two days after Ben Simmons suffered a foot injury during a training camp scrimmage, the Sixers are still mapping out their game plan for the recovery of the No. 1 pick by continuing to evaluate and gather medical information.

“Nothing has been determined as of yet with regard to surgery or a timeline or anything of the sort,” Sixers president of basketball operations Bryan Colangelo said following practice on Sunday.

Simmons fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his right foot after rolling his ankle from stepping on the foot of Shawn Long on Friday. Colangelo noted Simmons’ injury is acute.

On Saturday, a league source told CSNPhilly.com Simmons will have surgery and that a date has not been set (see story).

Colangelo feels the Sixers are “getting close” on reaching a decision of how to manage Simmons’ injury. The Sixers have been consulting with Simmons, his family and his representation.

“It’s likely that he’s going to require surgery,” Colangelo said. “That determination has not been made with 100 percent certainty, but it’s likely. That’s my best read on this so far. Once there is a conclusion to the process, I’m sure the doctors that are involved will term everything and define it for us and have some idea of what your normal course of recovery would be.”

Simmons, according to reports, suffered a Jones fracture. The nature of the fracture is critical when determining the length of the recovery, from a projected matter of weeks to months. Colangelo did not say the exact type of the of fracture.

“I don’t want to get into specific definitions not having the medical expertise,” Colangelo said. “I’ve heard a lot of opinion over the last several days. I’d suffice it to say he broke his fifth metatarsal and how that’s termed or coined I’ll leave for the experts.”

While Simmons is in the early stages of his injury, the Sixers already know how they will approach his return. Just as they did with Joel Embiid, they will be cautious and are not going to jump into a comeback (see story).

“In no way, shape or form are we going to rush him back,” Colangelo said. “This is a process that we will go through the same way we’ve handled other injury situations in the past. … We’re going to let the medical professionals dictate the course of action in terms of both rehabilitation, recovery and return to action.”

The Sixers drafted Simmons with the first overall pick in June after finishing last season 10-72. A versatile 6-foot-10 point-forward, Simmons is a key centerpiece of the team’s future.

“We are obviously all disappointed this happened,” Colangelo said. “I feel very badly for Ben to be in a situation to start his career this way. But this is an injury that he should come back from and have a very successful and long career.”