Consecutive days of Ben Simmons being present but mentally and physically checked out culminated in the Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star being thrown out of Tuesday’s practice and suspended for one game.
People present at the scene say Simmons has simply come and gone inside the 76ers’ Camden, N.J., facility since returning to practice Sunday. He enters the facility and ignores most 76ers staffers. For instance, when the 76ers’ security official greeted Simmons on Sunday, the three-time All-Star just walked right by him. When others greet him, Simmons typically has given no response. It’s not a requirement for Simmons to talk to people inside the facility, but those present say he has been disengaged and not an active participant.
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Each day, Simmons trains by himself on his own side of the basketball court, shooting jumpers and free throws with rebounders. Sixers players greeted Simmons to start practice on Sunday, saying, “Welcome, Ben!” Simmons nodded.
On Sunday and Monday, he completed less than a handful of total defensive drills at practice — nothing more, nothing less. He played a few defensive stands in a scrimmage on Sunday. On Monday, Simmons participated in one drill, talking more to G League coaches than his 76ers coaches as the first team went through preparation for the opener in New Orleans with Tyrese Maxey in Simmons’ place in the starting lineup, sources said. Throughout his first two days of practice, Simmons did not sprint in a live scrimmage setting. He conducted some one-on-one work with coaches, working up a sweat.
But on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Simmons was the first 76ers player to leave practice. He simply came and went, changing clothes and not even showering at the team’s facility.
Simmons showed up to 76ers’ practice on Tuesday with a similar disposition: disengaged from everyone, spending time alone and displaying the same stoic face. He had yet to be placed into an offensive scrimmage for coach Doc Rivers’ practices since returning, and on Tuesday, as the team was doing a walk-through — a pre-practice exercise — Simmons was summoned.
Rivers wanted Simmons to take a spot on defense during this walk-through drill, and Simmons shook his head and refused. So Rivers asked once more.
“Ben, get in,” Rivers told Simmons, according to sources, “and take the spot.”
Simmons said no again.
“Go home,” Rivers told Simmons.
Simmons dropped the basketball and walked straight out to leave the building, sources said.
Simmons has mentally checked out of Philadelphia, as The Athletic has reported for some time, but now that the All-Defensive stalwart is back in the city around the franchise, tensions have risen. In Simmons’ first meeting with team personnel last week, a meeting that included Rivers, president of basketball operations Daryl Morey and general manager Elton Brand, sources said Simmons reiterated that he was not mentally ready to rejoin the team after the past several months. The past several months, of course, included Rivers and Joel Embiid criticizing him after the Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks. Rivers, Morey and Brand asked Simmons to be present, expecting the situation to be back to normal, but it still isn’t.
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Sixers officials said Simmons will be welcomed back at the team’s next practice, tentatively scheduled for Thursday, and they are hoping for him to have a better disposition. After practice on Tuesday, Rivers said, “Every single moment, I’m gonna give Ben a chance to join the team and be part of the team. He’s under contract to be part of the team. And so that’s not going to change.”
How the lingering Simmons situation affects the Sixers’ team dynamic remains an open question. Sixers sources say that Rivers has had the rest of the roster on the same page throughout camp under the leadership of Embiid, Tobias Harris, Danny Green and others. After practice, Embiid confirmed that he had not talked to Simmons since he returned to the team.
“I mean, I’m trying to win, and to win, you gotta have that relationship with your teammates,” Embiid said. “I do have that relationship with all my teammates. But, you know, at the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody. We get paid to produce on the court, go out, play hard and win some games. That’s what we get paid for. We don’t get paid to come out here and try to babysit somebody.”
Simmons has lost upwards of $1 million in fine money for missing preseason games, practices and team activities so far. Simmons has four years and $147 million remaining on his maximum contract. It’s clear around the league: The 76ers are attempting to try to use any amount of leverage now that Simmons has returned to Philadelphia.
The 76ers are not trying to move Simmons and have made clear that they will not deal him at this time, according to sources. The franchise wants Simmons to show up to practices and games, to be engaged and to perform to his capabilities. Simmons is not against playing, but he is not mentally ready yet, sources insist.
— Rich Hofmann contributed to this report from Camden.
(Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant / NBAE via Getty Images)