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I am blogging about Ben Simmons. And I really, really do not want to be doing this (see below). Today was supposed to be different with the hope of a semi-peaceful media interaction. And now? Ben Simmons has become the most fined player in NBA history, amassing $1.4 million in fines since rejoining the Sixers.
I refuse to blog about Ben Simmons
I refuse to blog about Ben Simmons
I want to blog about Ben Simmons
I refuse to blog about Ben Simmons
I refuse to blog about Ben Simmons— James Santore (@JamesSantore) October 19, 2021
Ben Simmons was supposed to take the stage and talk to the media at Noon today. Myself, along with what I imagine to be a large portion of the NBA and Sixers community, immediately hopped on expecting the much maligned Aussie to try to put on a straight face for a few minutes. And then: 12:05 – no Ben; 12:10 – no Ben; 12:15? NO BEN. And finally?
BREAKING NEWS at 12:19:
Sixers coach Doc Rivers threw Ben Simmons out of practice today and the suspension came shortly thereafter, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 19, 2021
Instead of taking the stage and talking to the media, Ben disengaged himself, pissed off his teammates and coach, and was able to parlay his childishness into an excuse to not give his much-anticipated press conference.
Now? The Sixers are a day away from Opening Night against the Pelicans and a man they’re paying a max contract to continues to dissuade any potential suitors from paying a decent price for him.
Simmons antics have actually been going on for years. But since Game 7 vs the Hawks in the 2021 playoffs, and honestly all of last season, Ben’s drama has continued to be the focal point for a team that literally had the FIRST SEED in the playoffs last season.
Source within the Sixers organization:
“The situation is getting wilder by the day. Nobody can control him or talk to him. He’s emotionally all over the place and acts like a victim. He’s still a kid mentally and it’s evident.”
— Jason Dumas (@JDumasReports) October 19, 2021
How did we get here? How did a guy who was drawing comparisons to guys like Magic Johnson and LeBron James coming out of LSU turn into a childish pariah who seemingly has zero self-awareness of the damage he is doing not only to the team and city who have given him EVERY chance, but to himself and his reputation?
Here’s a timeline leading up to the events above, in embedded-tweet form:
Ben Simmons has been informed that he'll be the No.1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft (@clevelanddotcom) #Sixers pic.twitter.com/2yGzZwAVRf
— Sports Are Philly (@SportsArePhilly) June 21, 2016
🚨 Ben Simmons will sit out for the remainder of the 2016-17 season. pic.twitter.com/lp18SmwyMJ
— Complex Sports (@ComplexSports) February 24, 2017
Ben Simmons only scored 1 point (0-4 FG) in tonight’s Game 2 loss in Boston. His low in the regular season was 4 points. https://t.co/0pClxgbfvz pic.twitter.com/5fRNj8p0hM
— StatMuse (@statmuse) May 4, 2018
15.8 PTS | 8.1 REB | 8.2 AST@BenSimmons25 takes home the trophy! 🇦🇺🇦🇺 #NBAAwards pic.twitter.com/M04LWNb5Dl
— NBA Australia (@NBA_AU) June 26, 2018
Our 2019 All-Stars. 🤩
#JoelEmbiid | #BenSimmons
#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/WKGazoeYAj— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) February 18, 2019
This angle of Kawhi’s shot is incredible. 😮
(🎥: @hall_julian)
pic.twitter.com/akvKXz8Rsy— theScore (@theScore) May 12, 2020
Brett Brown on Ben Simmons: “You can pass this along to his agent, his family, his friends and him: I want one 3-point shot a game minimum… And the mentality where he’s turning corners and trying to dunk or finish tight will equal higher efficiency.” pic.twitter.com/FyJVlN7KhK
— Rich Hofmann (@rich_hofmann) December 8, 2019
It has been 55 days since Brett Brown said he wanted Ben Simmons to take a minimum of 1-3 three pointers a game.
Simmons has taken exactly 0 legitimate three pointers#PhilaUnite #Sixers
— Broad Street Buddies (@BroadStBuddies) January 31, 2020
After a rapid courtship and negotiation, Doc Rivers has reached agreement on a deal to become the next coach of the Philadelphia 76ers, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 1, 2020
In response, 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey tells @TheAthleticNBA @Stadium: “We are not trading Ben Simmons — he is an important part of our future.” https://t.co/W6T7HQjjoP
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) December 18, 2020
The Philadelphia 76ers have clinched the 1st in the 2020-2021 NBA playoffs.
Last time the Sixers were the 1 seed, they went to the NBA Finals. pic.twitter.com/GHK2JvJZPH
— The Phifth Quarter (@The_PhifthQ) May 15, 2021
Lowest FT% in a single playoffs in NBA history (min 70 attempts):
34.2 — Ben Simmons in 2021
37.4 — Shaquille O’Neal in 2006
38.0 — Wilt Chamberlain in 1968Elite company. pic.twitter.com/s14R8cCSKm
— StatMuse (@statmuse) June 21, 2021
Gets even more unbelievable the more you think about it:
1) This is a dunk(!!) to tie the game
2) He passed it to the back-up defensive specialist
3) At worst, Trae hacks him and it’s his 5th foul with 3.5 minutes leftA microcosm of the Ben Simmons era, which is likely over pic.twitter.com/75n63BMT9j
— A (@aidan_34_powers) June 21, 2021
here is Joel Embiid’s reaction when Ben Simmons passed up the wide open dunk pic.twitter.com/lrfdYiYpkv
— Rob Perez (@WorldWideWob) June 21, 2021
Over the last two weeks, I spoke with NBA agents about Rich Paul, Ben Simmons, and the postgame press conference following Game 7.
It's inexcusable," one agent opined of Doc Rivers’ comments after Game 7.
That and more in part one of a two-part story:https://t.co/8cQR9zRMR3
— Austin Krell (@NBAKrell) September 15, 2021
Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons arrives in Philadelphia as talks progress with team: ESPN https://t.co/b8JT6BB6Ef via @6abc
— Katherine Scott (@KScott6abc) October 12, 2021
https://twitter.com/JeffEisenband/status/1450185217113825289?s=20
“I thought he was a distraction today. I told him, You should leave Ben”
-Doc Rivers pic.twitter.com/3JXBzR6Usd
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 19, 2021
“At this point, I don’t care about that man. He does what he wants”
-Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons
pic.twitter.com/q4BGUyiBAf— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 19, 2021
“I’m not here to babysit”
-Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons pic.twitter.com/dPiLr0A8XH
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 19, 2021
To be continued. Because this will seemingly never end. Tomorrow is Maxey’s time to shine. Let’s get it!
