I know what Ben Simmons is being told by his agent or what he might be thinking himself.
It doesn’t matter if I lose over $30+ million if I sit out the entire season because I will get paid that next season. Two things he doesn’t understand, you never get back the money you lost, and secondly, his reputation around the league is trash. It is correct he has a guaranteed contract, but are you confident after that contract is done that he will still want to play ball?
The Sixers could have a legit shot at the Finals if Simmons wanted to play, but instead, he has taken his ball and went home.
ESPN has more details on how much that is costing him.
SIMMONS HAS LOST over $19 million in fines since the season began (each missed game costs him $360,000). He hasn’t cleared a paycheck since the $8.25 million (25% of his $33 million salary) that was due to him Oct. 1. Every two weeks the team sends a notice with an explanation of all the fines he has accumulated for failing to render services, instead of a $1.375 million paycheck. By the end of the season, if he does not play for the Sixers or any other team, Simmons could lose another $12 million.
It is a staggering amount of money. Everyone involved assumes this issue will eventually be settled in arbitration. But those close to Simmons, who has earned upward of $60 million over his career, insist his decision to demand a trade and then not to play until he is traded has never been financially motivated. He wants a fresh start, away from a franchise he doesn’t feel comfortable playing for anymore.
“We don’t give a f— about the money,” one source close to Simmons says. “That’s not what this is. It’s hard for people to understand. But if you believe in what you’re doing and that this is not the right situation for you, and you’re trying to get to a better place, the money doesn’t matter. Obviously it’s a financial hit. But you adjust.”
I don’t like when the YES MEN say “we.” That is a big red flag for me.
Hopefully, Rich Paul and those closest to Ben know what they are doing it. ESPN also confirmed a BSO report that Simmons indeed has proposed to his girlfriend TV personality, Maya Jama.
Flip the pages for some lovely photos of her.