Doc Rivers supports Ben Simmons despite Sixers star’s practice antics: ‘I want Ben to be playing’
Keith Pompey, The Philadelphia Inquirer
NEW ORLEANS — This is far from where Doc Rivers and the 76ers want to be.
Rivers took over a loaded Sixers squad when he was hired on Oct. 3, 2020. They went on to finish the 2020-21 season with the Eastern Conference’s best record. This was supposed to be the season the Sixers took the next step in the postseason after a second-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks.
There was a lot of optimism for 2021-22. But Ben Simmons’ seemingly unrepairable relationship with the Sixers is now hovering over the season. The team suspended him for Wednesday’s opener at the New Orleans Pelicans after Rivers kicked him out of Tuesday’s practice for refusing to be more engaged.
Now, the Sixers’ lofty expectations appear to be suspended until the Simmons Saga is resolved.
“It’s not what you want to be in that way,” Rivers said. “But I took this team, because a lot of people didn’t think we could do what we did last year, and we obviously wanted to do more.
“We come in this summer thinking we are close, and not allow the residual effect of one loss overshadow what you actually did and unfortunately that has happened.”
One of Rivers’ responsibilities is to get everyone, including Simmons, to see how close they were to contending for an NBA title. The problem is, Simmons appears checked out and ready to move on.
Simmons felt like Rivers and Joel Embiid threw him under the bus after the team’s Game 7 loss to the Hawks.
The Sixers were notified days after the game through his agent that Simmons wanted to be traded. The team made it known he was available in trade, but demanded equal value in return. Simmons had no interaction with members of the Sixers’ brass until he personally informed them in late August that he would miss training camp. He ended his holdout on Oct. 11, and practiced for the team first the first time Sunday.
Then came Simmons’ suspension on Tuesday.
“I want Ben to be playing,” Rivers said after shootaround. “You know, that’s his job. I don’t like any players losing money. So there’s so many things about this I don’t like. But that still doesn’t mean you still don’t have to do your job and that’s the tough part.”
But Simmons, who has four years and $146.6 million left on his max contract, was fined $1.4 million for missing all four of the Sixers’ preseason games. He will be fined $360,000 for missing Wednesday’s game. The team has also imposed fines for missed meetings and practices.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Elise Amendola
The Nets' All-Star guard went on Instagram Live last week to say he still hopes to play for Brooklyn this season but has decided not to take the COVID-19 vaccination shot. He said he's not pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, explaining that "this is about my life and what I am choosing to do."
New York's COVID-19 vaccination protocols require that only vaccinated people are allowed at various public indoor activities. A player in the New York market has to have at least one vaccination shot to practice or play in the city.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said the team wasn't going to allow Irving to join the team until he gets at least one vaccine shot.
According to reports, the NBA and players' association agreed to a reduction in pay of 1/91.6% of salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses because of local COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Irving would lose $380,000 per game if he's not able to play.
Irving said on Instagram that "I'm not retiring."
Elise Amendola
The Nets' All-Star guard went on Instagram Live last week to say he still hopes to play for Brooklyn this season but has decided not to take the COVID-19 vaccination shot. He said he's not pro-vaccine or anti-vaccine, explaining that "this is about my life and what I am choosing to do."
New York's COVID-19 vaccination protocols require that only vaccinated people are allowed at various public indoor activities. A player in the New York market has to have at least one vaccination shot to practice or play in the city.
Brooklyn general manager Sean Marks said the team wasn't going to allow Irving to join the team until he gets at least one vaccine shot.
According to reports, the NBA and players' association agreed to a reduction in pay of 1/91.6% of salary for each game an unvaccinated player misses because of local COVID-19 vaccine mandates.
Irving would lose $380,000 per game if he's not able to play.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Matt Rourke
After saying he didn't want to play for the 76ers and wasn't going to show up to training camp, he finally showed up to camp.
It makes one wonder if money had anything to do with his decision. The 76ers had put $8.25 million due Simmons in escrow. His fines for missing games and practices could be taken from that amount.
Simmons, who has four years left on his contract worth about $147 million, is with the team working on his conditioning. The 76ers have said they'd like to keep the 25-year-old All-Star forward.
The teams that had reached out to the 76ers said Philadelphia was asking for too much to trade Simmons, and the teams don't believe Philadelphia has that leverage any more to get a big haul.
Stay tuned.
Matt Rourke
After saying he didn't want to play for the 76ers and wasn't going to show up to training camp, he finally showed up to camp.
It makes one wonder if money had anything to do with his decision. The 76ers had put $8.25 million due Simmons in escrow. His fines for missing games and practices could be taken from that amount.
Simmons, who has four years left on his contract worth about $147 million, is with the team working on his conditioning. The 76ers have said they'd like to keep the 25-year-old All-Star forward.
The teams that had reached out to the 76ers said Philadelphia was asking for too much to trade Simmons, and the teams don't believe Philadelphia has that leverage any more to get a big haul.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
According to 80% of NBA executives polled during an NBA.com survey, the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals before losing to the just-as-talented Brooklyn Nets.
For the Lakers, it'll be about making it fit on a deep roster, keeping egos in check and playing better defense than most pundits think they can.
They have 11 new players on their 14-man roster, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker returning.
They've added the dynamic Russell Westbrook, with many believing that the triple-double machine will have to make the most changes to his game to make their Big 3 work.
They've brought back Dwight Howard for a third tour of duty and added Carmelo Anthony, two players with strong personalities.
They have nine players over 30 and six at least 35 or older, so age will be a topic of concern all season.
According to 80% of NBA executives polled during an NBA.com survey, the Lakers will reach the NBA Finals before losing to the just-as-talented Brooklyn Nets.
For the Lakers, it'll be about making it fit on a deep roster, keeping egos in check and playing better defense than most pundits think they can.
They have 11 new players on their 14-man roster, with LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Talen Horton-Tucker returning.
They've added the dynamic Russell Westbrook, with many believing that the triple-double machine will have to make the most changes to his game to make their Big 3 work.
They've brought back Dwight Howard for a third tour of duty and added Carmelo Anthony, two players with strong personalities.
They have nine players over 30 and six at least 35 or older, so age will be a topic of concern all season.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Paul Sancya
Don't the Milwaukee Bucks have one of the league's top-five players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the top two-way players in Jrue Holiday, an All-Star in Khris Middleton and some really good complementary pieces?
Maybe it's because many feel the Bucks were lucky to win the title and it was their time last season when many top contenders were missing star players to injury.
Regardless, the Bucks still have a very good team.
Paul Sancya
Don't the Milwaukee Bucks have one of the league's top-five players in Giannis Antetokounmpo, one of the top two-way players in Jrue Holiday, an All-Star in Khris Middleton and some really good complementary pieces?
Maybe it's because many feel the Bucks were lucky to win the title and it was their time last season when many top contenders were missing star players to injury.
Regardless, the Bucks still have a very good team.
NBA tipoff: Live news and scores as the NBA begins its 75th season
Adam Hunger
Irving can't practice or play in a game in Brooklyn because he's hasn't met New York's COVID-19 mandate that requires a player to have at least one vaccination shot to participate in indoor practices or game.
Still, many NBA executives in the NBA.com survey believe the Nets will win the title because they still have the nearly unstoppable Kevin Durant and the lethal James Harden.
It's just that it will be tough task to undertake if the uber-talented Irving remains a distraction for the Nets all season.
Adam Hunger
Irving can't practice or play in a game in Brooklyn because he's hasn't met New York's COVID-19 mandate that requires a player to have at least one vaccination shot to participate in indoor practices or game.
Still, many NBA executives in the NBA.com survey believe the Nets will win the title because they still have the nearly unstoppable Kevin Durant and the lethal James Harden.
It's just that it will be tough task to undertake if the uber-talented Irving remains a distraction for the Nets all season.
