It is one thing for Ben Simmons to be salty at Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid. Rivers said they couldn’t win a championship with him at point guard, and Embiid yelled at him for being scared to shoot.
It is understandable to be upset with the Sixers front office, who have dangled Simmons in trades and refuse at the moment to honor his trade request.
What isn’t understandable is Simmons being a jackass to Sixers staffers who have done nothing to him and are just trying to be polite.
This report from The Athletic gives you some insight into the type of person Simmons has become.
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.
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.
Simmons hasn’t been sprinting during scrimmages.
He doesn’t hang around after practice. He is the first to leave, not bothering to shower before he goes.
It all came to a head today when Doc Rivers asked him to do a simple defensive drill.
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 is going to have to make a decision. He is being paid handsomely to do a job, either do it or forfeit the money.
Life is about choices, and he has one to make.
Flip the page for Embiid and Rivers getting fed up with Simmons.