During a recent interview with ESPN, Simmons revealed that he and Embiid never had a great relationship. 

“I don’t talk to Jo,” Simmons shared when asked whether he had talked with Embiid lately. “We never really spoke.”

 “I don’t think there was really a relationship there,” Simmons added. “… I don’t have any anger or hate towards him. He is who he is, and I am who I am.”

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were teammates for four seasons in Philadelphia and were often considered the best young duo in the NBA. Led by the duo, the 76ers found success in the regular season but never managed to get over the hump in the playoffs. Playing together, Simmons and Embiid never got past the Conference Semifinals.

The pairing was blown up in the summer of 2021 when Simmons refused o play for the 76ers anymore and asked to be traded. He ended up getting his wish fulfilled midway through the 2021-22 campaign, being sent to the Nets in exchange for superstar James Harden.

The post Ben Simmons on His Relationship with Joel Embiid: “We Never Really Spoke” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“I think it’s obviously a good start. But as I said, at this time we have to respect his privacy, his space, and we’ve got to be there for him, with what he’s going through and this process.”

Harris furthermore explained that the public often has misconceptions about athletes, forgetting that they too have human emotions and go through personal turmoil that fans and the press do not see.

According to multiple sources, Simmons is scheduled to meet with medical professionals after alerting the coaching staff that he is not yet mentally prepared to return to NBA action.

In addition to medical consultations, Simmons also met with coach Doc Rivers and his teammates on Friday morning, when he began the process that will likely delay his return to action. Despite any past disagreements, the 76ers have offered Simmons whatever resources he needs in order to help him overcome his struggles and return to action.

The post Tobias Harris Expresses Support For Ben Simmons appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Further details about the sit-down between Simmons and the 76ers remain unknown, but sources close to the organization described it to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne as “brief.”

This is an unexpected turn of events in the Simmons/76ers saga that has plagued the team for the better part of the offseason. The 25-year-old star asked to be traded back in August and opted to remain away from the team until moved. Philadelphia retaliated by withholding the player’s salary and putting it in escrow while fining him for every preseason game he missed.

While it appeared earlier that Simmons was ready to forfeit the money to get what he wanted, his mind changed late last week. His representatives and the 76ers had a breakthrough in talks and laid the foundation for Simmons to return to the team.

It now remains to be seen whether Simmons just reported to keep collecting his paychecks or he intends to play for the 76ers this season. The answer to this will be clearer later this week when he passes NBA health and safety protocols and becomes eligible to participate in team activities.

Ben Simmons decided to ask out after being criticized by several members of the organization for his poor performances in the 2020-21 postseason. Simmons averaged career-low 11.9 points per game in the first two rounds and particularly struggled in the Eastern Conference semifinals exit against the Atlanta Hawks.

The 76ers were at first open to trading Simmons but failed to find offers they liked. This is when the organization changed its approach and became focused on repairing the relationship with the player.

The post Ben Simmons Returns to 76ers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the 76ers recently reached out to the Portland Trail Blazers and offered them Simmons in return for C.J. McCollum. But Philly wasn’t interested in doing a one-for-one swap, as they also asked to get three first-round picks and three draft swaps. The Trail Blazers deemed this too steep and pulled out of talks.

The two teams are reportedly still talking, but one would have to significantly lower their expectations in order to push the deal over the finishing line.

Charania also reports that the 76ers are talking with the Indiana Pacers about a potential trade. The talks are reportedly centered on Simmons heading to Indiana, while Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, and picks would head in the opposite direction.

Ben Simmons asked the 76ers for a trade back in August, and the two sides are engaged in a rarely-seen standoff since then. Simmons made a decision to remain away from the team until he gets his wish, while the 76ers opted to withhold his salary and fine him for every game he misses.

The post Trail Blazers Reject C.J. McCollum for Ben Simmons Swap Proposal from 76ers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to multiple sources, the 76ers will continue to deduct Simmons’ pay so long as the player refuses to make appearances for the team. Once he returns to action, the 76ers will provide him with the remaining money.

Should Simmons not make himself available for the 76ers first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, he will be fined $227,000. This same fine will be imposed for every subsequent game that he refuses to play in.

According to ESPN, there was a meeting between Simmons and the 76ers leadership team last month, during which Simmons was made aware of the possibility of being fined for his refusal to play. In response, Simmons declared that his stance had not changed regarding his decision to withdraw from action as well as the submission of his trade request.

76ers star Joel Embiid expressed disappointment over the ongoing saga, explaining that an on-court partnership with Simmons could bring success to the 76ers in the coming season.

The post 76ers Withhold Funds Owed to Simmons As Player’s Absence Continues appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The representatives of Simmons have notified the 76ers about their client’s intentions while also telling the team that he won’t report when the training camp opens in late September. Wojnarowski adds that the 25-year-old star hasn’t had any direct communication with the franchise in weeks.

Simmons and the 76ers ended the 2020-21 NBA season on a bad note after the All-Star point guard’s poor performances were singled out as a reason for the team’s early playoff exit. The relationship between the two sides only got worse during the offseason, and the bad situation turned to worse when Simmons asked to be traded during a meeting with the Philly brass in August.

The 76ers front office and President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey reportedly wouldn’t have anything against trading Simmons but found that the offers they received for him were not even close to something they would consider. The team was ready to play the long game, hoping that Simmons would rebuild his value in 2021-22, but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore.

Sitting out won’t be without consequences for Simmons, who has four years and $147 million left on the max rookie extension he signed back in 2019. According to ESPN, the 76ers could fine him around $227K for each game he misses, starting preseason.

The post Ben Simmons Doesn’t Intend to Play for 76ers Again appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As expected, the NBA All-Defensive First Team is headlined by Antetokounmpo with 195 points (97 first-team votes), Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Anthony Davis, who got 87 first-team votes and collected 187 points, and Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star Ben Simmons (88 first-team votes, 185 points).

The trio is joined by Boston Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart, and Utah Jazz’s center Rudy Gobert, who received his fourth straight selection.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, LA Clippers’ pair Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley, and Bucks’ duo Brook Lopez and Eric Bledsoe.

The NBA handed out a majority of its regular-season honors for the 2019/20 season, including Most Improved Player (New Orleans Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram), Sixth Man of the Year (Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell), and Rookie of the Year (Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant). The only individual award left to be announced is Most Valuable Player, while the league also hasn’t revealed its All-Rookie teams and the All-NBA teams.

The post Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons & Giannis Antetokounmpo Headline 2019/20 NBA All-Defensive Teams appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Simmons suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game against Washington Wizards while grabbing a rebound midway through the third quarter. The 24-year-old tweaked his knee on the way down and limped off the court shortly after. He didn’t return to the game.

According to reports, MRI on Simmons’ knee showed no ligament damage, and he’s currently working with the team to determine the best treatment option. 

It is unclear whether this injury puts Simmons out for the season, with 76ers’ head coach Brett Brown giving the reporters a vague answer when asked about it.

“Some of the information is fluid … It’s just that the stuff is still being evaluated,” said Brown.

Ben Simmons was already ruled out for the season once this year, after picking up a back injury back in February. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic break, Simmons had enough time to recover and return to action in time for the NBA restart.

Simmons is averaging 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

The post All-Star Ben Simmons out “Indefinitely” for 76ers due to Left Knee Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a conference call with reporters, Brown explained, “He’s so dynamic. “Let’s just talk about running. There’s nobody faster in the NBA. So to always have the ball and dribble it up against five guys … to do that dilutes some of his potent weapons. So, watching him fly up the floor, watching him and Joel [Embiid] play off each other, has been a really good look. I think they’ve been fantastic together.”

76ers fans, who have expressed much anxiety over the chemistry between Simmons and Embiid over the past three seasons.

Standing at 6-foot-10 with plenty of skill and athleticism, Simmons is a versatile player with the ability to play in any position on the court.

Simmons himself expressed confidence in his abilities, stating “I feel like I have a very high IQ on the court and see things a lot differently and can pass the ball very well, so that’s a threat.”

The post 76ers Coach Praises Ben Simmons at Power Forward appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

76ers also issued an update about Simmons’ health, saying that the player will be evaluated again in three weeks.

Simmons hurt his back during a February 22^nd game against Milwaukee Bucks, and has been rehabbing since. And while he is making progress, the 23-year-old is still far from being 100 percent.

“I can’t give you dates or a timeline,” Simmons told reporters. “I’m doing well. Rehab has been great. Progressing, staying in there and doing what I can to come back 100 percent.”

Ben Simmons had a solid season so far, but he hasn’t exactly made a leap that everyone expected him to make in his third season in NBA. Simmons is currently averaging  16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, which is in line with his numbers from previous years.

It doesn’t help that 76ers also played underwhelming basketball as a team, sitting at 39-26 record at the moment. This is enough for the sixth spot in the East, which is more than disappointing for a team that had NBA title aspirations this season.

The post 76ers’ Ben Simmons Unsure Whether He’ll Return This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a recent interview with ESPN, Simmons revealed that he and Embiid never had a great relationship. 

“I don’t talk to Jo,” Simmons shared when asked whether he had talked with Embiid lately. “We never really spoke.”

 “I don’t think there was really a relationship there,” Simmons added. “… I don’t have any anger or hate towards him. He is who he is, and I am who I am.”

Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid were teammates for four seasons in Philadelphia and were often considered the best young duo in the NBA. Led by the duo, the 76ers found success in the regular season but never managed to get over the hump in the playoffs. Playing together, Simmons and Embiid never got past the Conference Semifinals.

The pairing was blown up in the summer of 2021 when Simmons refused o play for the 76ers anymore and asked to be traded. He ended up getting his wish fulfilled midway through the 2021-22 campaign, being sent to the Nets in exchange for superstar James Harden.

The post Ben Simmons on His Relationship with Joel Embiid: “We Never Really Spoke” appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

“I think it’s obviously a good start. But as I said, at this time we have to respect his privacy, his space, and we’ve got to be there for him, with what he’s going through and this process.”

Harris furthermore explained that the public often has misconceptions about athletes, forgetting that they too have human emotions and go through personal turmoil that fans and the press do not see.

According to multiple sources, Simmons is scheduled to meet with medical professionals after alerting the coaching staff that he is not yet mentally prepared to return to NBA action.

In addition to medical consultations, Simmons also met with coach Doc Rivers and his teammates on Friday morning, when he began the process that will likely delay his return to action. Despite any past disagreements, the 76ers have offered Simmons whatever resources he needs in order to help him overcome his struggles and return to action.

The post Tobias Harris Expresses Support For Ben Simmons appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Further details about the sit-down between Simmons and the 76ers remain unknown, but sources close to the organization described it to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne as “brief.”

This is an unexpected turn of events in the Simmons/76ers saga that has plagued the team for the better part of the offseason. The 25-year-old star asked to be traded back in August and opted to remain away from the team until moved. Philadelphia retaliated by withholding the player’s salary and putting it in escrow while fining him for every preseason game he missed.

While it appeared earlier that Simmons was ready to forfeit the money to get what he wanted, his mind changed late last week. His representatives and the 76ers had a breakthrough in talks and laid the foundation for Simmons to return to the team.

It now remains to be seen whether Simmons just reported to keep collecting his paychecks or he intends to play for the 76ers this season. The answer to this will be clearer later this week when he passes NBA health and safety protocols and becomes eligible to participate in team activities.

Ben Simmons decided to ask out after being criticized by several members of the organization for his poor performances in the 2020-21 postseason. Simmons averaged career-low 11.9 points per game in the first two rounds and particularly struggled in the Eastern Conference semifinals exit against the Atlanta Hawks.

The 76ers were at first open to trading Simmons but failed to find offers they liked. This is when the organization changed its approach and became focused on repairing the relationship with the player.

The post Ben Simmons Returns to 76ers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to The Athletic’s Shams Charania, the 76ers recently reached out to the Portland Trail Blazers and offered them Simmons in return for C.J. McCollum. But Philly wasn’t interested in doing a one-for-one swap, as they also asked to get three first-round picks and three draft swaps. The Trail Blazers deemed this too steep and pulled out of talks.

The two teams are reportedly still talking, but one would have to significantly lower their expectations in order to push the deal over the finishing line.

Charania also reports that the 76ers are talking with the Indiana Pacers about a potential trade. The talks are reportedly centered on Simmons heading to Indiana, while Malcolm Brogdon, Caris LeVert, and picks would head in the opposite direction.

Ben Simmons asked the 76ers for a trade back in August, and the two sides are engaged in a rarely-seen standoff since then. Simmons made a decision to remain away from the team until he gets his wish, while the 76ers opted to withhold his salary and fine him for every game he misses.

The post Trail Blazers Reject C.J. McCollum for Ben Simmons Swap Proposal from 76ers appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

According to multiple sources, the 76ers will continue to deduct Simmons’ pay so long as the player refuses to make appearances for the team. Once he returns to action, the 76ers will provide him with the remaining money.

Should Simmons not make himself available for the 76ers first preseason game against the Toronto Raptors on Monday, he will be fined $227,000. This same fine will be imposed for every subsequent game that he refuses to play in.

According to ESPN, there was a meeting between Simmons and the 76ers leadership team last month, during which Simmons was made aware of the possibility of being fined for his refusal to play. In response, Simmons declared that his stance had not changed regarding his decision to withdraw from action as well as the submission of his trade request.

76ers star Joel Embiid expressed disappointment over the ongoing saga, explaining that an on-court partnership with Simmons could bring success to the 76ers in the coming season.

The post 76ers Withhold Funds Owed to Simmons As Player’s Absence Continues appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

The representatives of Simmons have notified the 76ers about their client’s intentions while also telling the team that he won’t report when the training camp opens in late September. Wojnarowski adds that the 25-year-old star hasn’t had any direct communication with the franchise in weeks.

Simmons and the 76ers ended the 2020-21 NBA season on a bad note after the All-Star point guard’s poor performances were singled out as a reason for the team’s early playoff exit. The relationship between the two sides only got worse during the offseason, and the bad situation turned to worse when Simmons asked to be traded during a meeting with the Philly brass in August.

The 76ers front office and President of Basketball Operations Daryl Morey reportedly wouldn’t have anything against trading Simmons but found that the offers they received for him were not even close to something they would consider. The team was ready to play the long game, hoping that Simmons would rebuild his value in 2021-22, but that doesn’t seem to be an option anymore.

Sitting out won’t be without consequences for Simmons, who has four years and $147 million left on the max rookie extension he signed back in 2019. According to ESPN, the 76ers could fine him around $227K for each game he misses, starting preseason.

The post Ben Simmons Doesn’t Intend to Play for 76ers Again appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

As expected, the NBA All-Defensive First Team is headlined by Antetokounmpo with 195 points (97 first-team votes), Los Angeles Lakers’ forward Anthony Davis, who got 87 first-team votes and collected 187 points, and Philadelphia 76ers’ All-Star Ben Simmons (88 first-team votes, 185 points).

The trio is joined by Boston Celtics’ guard Marcus Smart, and Utah Jazz’s center Rudy Gobert, who received his fourth straight selection.

The NBA All-Defensive Second Team consists of Miami Heat’s Bam Adebayo, LA Clippers’ pair Kawhi Leonard and Patrick Beverley, and Bucks’ duo Brook Lopez and Eric Bledsoe.

The NBA handed out a majority of its regular-season honors for the 2019/20 season, including Most Improved Player (New Orleans Pelicans’ Brandon Ingram), Sixth Man of the Year (Clippers’ Montrezl Harrell), and Rookie of the Year (Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant). The only individual award left to be announced is Most Valuable Player, while the league also hasn’t revealed its All-Rookie teams and the All-NBA teams.

The post Anthony Davis, Ben Simmons & Giannis Antetokounmpo Headline 2019/20 NBA All-Defensive Teams appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

Simmons suffered the injury in Wednesday’s game against Washington Wizards while grabbing a rebound midway through the third quarter. The 24-year-old tweaked his knee on the way down and limped off the court shortly after. He didn’t return to the game.

According to reports, MRI on Simmons’ knee showed no ligament damage, and he’s currently working with the team to determine the best treatment option. 

It is unclear whether this injury puts Simmons out for the season, with 76ers’ head coach Brett Brown giving the reporters a vague answer when asked about it.

“Some of the information is fluid … It’s just that the stuff is still being evaluated,” said Brown.

Ben Simmons was already ruled out for the season once this year, after picking up a back injury back in February. However, due to the coronavirus pandemic break, Simmons had enough time to recover and return to action in time for the NBA restart.

Simmons is averaging 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.0 assists, and 2.1 steals per game.

The post All-Star Ben Simmons out “Indefinitely” for 76ers due to Left Knee Injury appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

During a conference call with reporters, Brown explained, “He’s so dynamic. “Let’s just talk about running. There’s nobody faster in the NBA. So to always have the ball and dribble it up against five guys … to do that dilutes some of his potent weapons. So, watching him fly up the floor, watching him and Joel [Embiid] play off each other, has been a really good look. I think they’ve been fantastic together.”

76ers fans, who have expressed much anxiety over the chemistry between Simmons and Embiid over the past three seasons.

Standing at 6-foot-10 with plenty of skill and athleticism, Simmons is a versatile player with the ability to play in any position on the court.

Simmons himself expressed confidence in his abilities, stating “I feel like I have a very high IQ on the court and see things a lot differently and can pass the ball very well, so that’s a threat.”

The post 76ers Coach Praises Ben Simmons at Power Forward appeared first on yoursportspot.com.

76ers also issued an update about Simmons’ health, saying that the player will be evaluated again in three weeks.

Simmons hurt his back during a February 22^nd game against Milwaukee Bucks, and has been rehabbing since. And while he is making progress, the 23-year-old is still far from being 100 percent.

“I can’t give you dates or a timeline,” Simmons told reporters. “I’m doing well. Rehab has been great. Progressing, staying in there and doing what I can to come back 100 percent.”

Ben Simmons had a solid season so far, but he hasn’t exactly made a leap that everyone expected him to make in his third season in NBA. Simmons is currently averaging  16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game, which is in line with his numbers from previous years.

It doesn’t help that 76ers also played underwhelming basketball as a team, sitting at 39-26 record at the moment. This is enough for the sixth spot in the East, which is more than disappointing for a team that had NBA title aspirations this season.

The post 76ers’ Ben Simmons Unsure Whether He’ll Return This Season appeared first on yoursportspot.com.