PHILADELPHIA – The 76ers announced Tuesday afternoon that Ben simmons he had been suspended for one game for conduct detrimental to the team, causing him to miss the team’s season opener in New Orleans against the Pelicans.
The statement was issued late in team practice Tuesday – after Simmons had been kicked out of practice by 76ers coach Doc Rivers. Simmons was essentially sent off for refusing to substitute on one of the drills, sources told Wojnarowski.
“I just thought he was a distraction today,” Rivers said Tuesday after practice. “I didn’t think he wanted to do what everyone else was doing. It was early. It wasn’t a big deal. I just told him he should go. We continued with practice.”
The 76ers have fined Simmons $ 1.4 million for missing four preseason games ($ 360,000 each) and imposed numerous team fines for absences from practices, court sessions and meetings, sources told Wojnarowski. Simmons has not earned any money since he returned with the team on October 11.
Simmons’ reluctance to involve Simmons physically and mentally with the Sixers since his return has been a consistent theme, sources told Wojnarowski.
The star pivot of the Sixers, Joel embiid, said Tuesday he wasn’t here to “babysit” Simmons.
“Right now, I don’t care about that man,” Embiid said. “He does what he wants.”
Tuesday was the third day in a row that Simmons had practiced with the team after passing NBA health and safety protocols to re-enter the league. He returned to the team on Monday after missing the first two weeks of practice, while holding out in hopes of seeing his offseason trade request fulfilled.
“Every day, every moment, I will give Ben a chance to join the team and be a part of the team,” Rivers said Tuesday. “He’s under contract to be part of the team and that won’t change. Sometimes it happens quickly and guys get back in. Sometimes not. I’ve been in both situations and by me, it’s okay.”
He worked with the second team in practice on Sunday and Monday, and immediately left the court the moment both practices were over.
Rivers had previously declined to say when Simmons would return to the court with the team for a game.
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