Ben Simmons' Return to Philadelphia Has Already Imploded in Spectacular Fashion
Ben Simmons' return to the Philadelphia 76ers now ranks somewhere alongside the Titanic, the Hindenburg, the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and the 2011 Philadelphia Eagles on the list of the greatest disasters of all time.
On Tuesday, Simmons was kicked out of practice and suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team. As soon as that happened, a cascade of information followed that made it clear Simmons is miserable in Philly, and the Sixers are miserable when he's around. It was an avalanche that was hilarious and completely expected. Like Belloq staring at the Ark of the Covenant, I couldn't stop watching and screaming "it's beautiful!" as more drama poured forth from Philadelphia.
Here's the timeline of what was released so you can relive it in all its glory:
76ers have suspended Ben Simmons for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2021
Ben Simmons was kicked out of today’s practice for no being engaged, according to sources. #Sixers
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 19, 2021
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
Rivers: “i just thought he was a distraction today, he didn’t want to do what everyone else is doing”
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 19, 2021
Simmons was tossed early in practice, essentially for a refusal to participate in the next stage of the session, sources tell ESPN. https://t.co/wq2hN07lny
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 19, 2021
Embiid says he has not talked with Simmons since he returned.
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 19, 2021
“At the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody”
In the midst of all that, Joel Embiid climbed the top rope and delivered an elbow drop from hell:
“At this point, I don’t care about that man. He does what he wants”
— John Clark (@JClarkNBCS) October 19, 2021
-Joel Embiid on Ben Simmons
pic.twitter.com/q4BGUyiBAf
Sources: Doc Rivers asked Ben Simmons to join a defensive drill today. Simmons refused. Rivers asked again. Simmons said no again.
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) October 19, 2021
Rivers then told Simmons he should go home, and Simmons dropped the ball and left.
ESPN Sources: The 76ers have fined Ben Simmons $1.4M for his absence from four preseason games (360K each) and levied numerous team fines for missed practices, on-court workouts and meetings. He hasn’t earned any money since returning to the team on October 11.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) October 19, 2021
I'm literally fanning myself right now. That was amazing. Cue the Kylo Ren "More!" GIF. Then inject it directly into my veins.
We all got into this business because we love sports. We love the competition, the camaraderie, the intensity and the big moments that keep us coming back. But, let's be real, more than anything we love the drama. And good lord does the NBA deliver at every turn.