The 2021-22 NBA season will officially open tonight and the Philadelphia 76ers are not yet done on the Ben Simmons saga.
The Sixers have suspended Simmons for one game Simmons due to conduct detrimental to the team. Sixers’ head coach Doc Rivers threw Simmons out of practice today because of latter’s reluctance to physically and mentally engage with the Sixers.
“I just thought he was a distraction today, he didn’t want to do what everyone else is doing. Rivers said.
According to ESPN insider Adrian Wojnarowski, Simmons declined several times to sub into a drill before getting thrown out of the practice by Rivers.
The Philly-Simmons saga started from the offseason after Simmons reportedly requested a trade to one of the California NBA teams. The Sixers tried to trade Simmons but their asking price was too much for the interested teams.
Simmons surprisingly went on the team’s practice last week and many thought that the Simmons’ issue with the team were all in the past.
Sixers’ big man Joel Embiid was recently interviewed about Simons one-game suspension and his answer confirms that the Simmons-Embiid tandem in Philly might be finally over.
“At this point I don’t care about that man, honestly. He does whatever he wants. That’s not my job. I am only focus on trying to make the team better, win some games.” Embiid said.
Embiid added that he hasn’t spoken with Simmons since he returned on practice.
“At the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody. I’d be willing to babysit if someone wants to listen, but that’s not my job.” the four-time NBA All-Star said.
Simmons was also fined $1.4M by the team for his absence from four preseason games and levied numerous team fines for missed practices, on-court workouts and meetings.
About Author
