Philadelphia 76ers suspend Ben Simmons for their season opener

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12:24 PM ET

  • Tim BontempsESPN

PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers introduced Tuesday afternoon that Ben Simmons has been suspended just one recreation for conduct harmful to the workforce, which will bring about him to miss the team’s period-opening video game in New Orleans from the Pelicans on Wednesday night.

The assertion was launched late in the team’s practice Tuesday, following Simmons had been thrown out of apply by 76ers mentor Doc Rivers. Essentially, Simmons was tossed for declining many instances to sub into a drill, sources told Wojnarowski.

“I just thought he was a distraction nowadays,” Rivers explained Tuesday after follow. “I failed to consider he preferred to do what everyone else was executing. It was early. It was not a major offer. I just explained to him he really should leave. We went on with follow.”

The 76ers have fined Simmons $1.4 million for his absence from four preseason online games ($360,000 each and every) and levied a lot of team fines for skipped practices, on-courtroom workouts and meetings, sources told Wojnarowski. Simmons has not acquired any cash due to the fact returning to the team on Oct. 11.

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Simmons’ reluctance to physically and mentally have interaction with the Sixers given that his return has been a constant theme, resources advised Wojnarowski.

Sixers All-Star middle Joel Embiid stated Tuesday he was not here to “babysit” Simmons.

“At this point, I really don’t care about that gentleman,” Embiid reported. “He does regardless of what he would like.”

Tuesday was the third straight working day Simmons had practiced with the staff soon after clearing the NBA’s reentry overall health and security protocols Friday. He returned to the team on Oct. 11 following lacking the to start with two weeks of follow, as he held out in the hopes of getting his trade request from the offseason fulfilled.

“Each and every working day, each individual solitary second, I’m going to give Ben a opportunity to sign up for the workforce and be part of the team,” Rivers reported Tuesday. “He is underneath deal to be section of the crew and which is not heading to change. Often it takes place swift and men be part of back in. From time to time it does not. I have been in both of those conditions and I’m great with that.”

He worked with the 2nd team in observe both Sunday and Monday, and instantly still left the court the instant the two methods finished.

Rivers had formerly declined to say when Simmons would return to the court docket with the staff for a video game.

The Involved Press contributed to this report.