When the Brooklyn Nets traded for Ben Simmons, many fans expected to see the big, All-Defense Australian guard on the court right away, as Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and co made their final push toward the playoffs. But it soon became apparent that because of his lengthy spell on the sidelines, Simmons wasn’t ready for NBA primetime. In this episode, co-host Tim DiFrancesco (TD)  uses the experience he gained in six seasons as the Lakers’ S&C coach to share how the Nets’ performance and medical staff are getting Simmons court-ready. TD also shares a simple way that any listener can reduce their injury risk by avoiding spikes in their training and competition workload. In this episode, you’ll learn:Why it’s not surprising that it is taking Ben Simmons a while to get back into NBA game shapeHow coming back too fast and logging high minutes too early could put him at riskWhat you can do to assess your acute-to-chronic workloadHow avoiding sudden spikes in load can keep you healthyHow to reduce injury risk while resuming any sport or recreational activityWhy Simmons’s return to play holds a valuable lesson about patience and gradual progress