Ben Simmons rejects meeting with 76ers teammates
Philadelphia 76ers players wanted to travel to Los Angeles this week to meet with Ben Simmons and spend time convincing their All-Star teammate to commit to the 2021-22 season with them, but they were informed not to come and that Simmons did not want to meet, sources tell The Athletic.
Source: Shams Charania and The Athletic Staff @ The Athletic
What’s the buzz on Twitter?
Shams Charania @ShamsCharania
Sources: Philadelphia 76ers players wanted to take a jet to Los Angeles this week to meet with Ben Simmons, but were informed not to come and that the three-time All-Star did not want to meet.
Details: theathletic.com/news/ben-simmo… – 12:56 PM
Candace Buckner @CandaceDBuckner
Good morning! I wrote a column about Ben Simmons and who gets to be called a ‘superstar’ in the NBA:
washingtonpost.com/sports/2021/09… – 9:08 AM
Derek Bodner @DerekBodnerNBA
Still completely slack-jawed at Doc Rivers comparing Ben Simmons and his representatives to Trump supporting, Big Lie denialists days before training camp starts, as they’re in the middle of trying to convince Simmons to come back and join the team.
Sixers always gonna Sixer. – 8:02 AM
Harrison Wind @HarrisonWind
What we learned with the Nuggets today:
– Tarik Black signed with Denver for training camp.
– Nikola Jokic is the 6th best player in the NBA, per ESPN
– Ben Simmons was spotted at Casa Bonita in Lakewood last night. Witnesses said he only lasted 15 seconds in Black Bart’s Cave – 9:27 PM
Christopher Hine @ChristopherHine
For Sunday’s paper (but published online now!) I wrote about what the events of this week might signal about the Marc Lore/Rodriguez tenure and what this might mean more immediately for the Timberwolves pursuit of Ben Simmons: startribune.com/gersson-rosas-… – 4:28 PM
CBS NBA @CBSSportsNBA
Doc Rivers makes a Donald Trump comparison while discussing Ben Simmons’ situation with 76ers
cbssports.com/nba/news/doc-r… – 4:03 PM
Jon Krawczynski @JonKrawczynski
Assessing Timberwolves fallout after Gersson Rosas’ dismissal, from ownership’s role to a potential Ben Simmons trade
via @TheAthletic theathletic.com/2846535/2021/0… – 3:43 PM
The Ringer @ringernba
New #TheMismatch!
Join @Chris Vernon and @Kevin O’Connor as they discuss the front office upheaval in Minnesota, Ben Simmons’s potential to sit out training camp, and more!
therin.gr/75QTfYA – 3:37 PM
Henry Abbott @TrueHoop
On BRING IT IN @David Thorpe and @jarodhector on Ben Simmons as an actual human being truehoop.com/p/bring-it-in-… Really recommend taking a minute to read David’s free story “Healing Ben Simmons” truehoop.com/p/healing-ben-… pic.twitter.com/xIHf2ivzcY – 2:18 PM
Marc Stein @TheSteinLine
Quiet final week of the NBA offseason? Yeah, right.
The latest in Philly, Minnesota and more all feature in my This Week In Basketball column freshly sent to inboxes worldwide: marcstein.substack.com/p/weekend-dime…
Sign up to get all the Ben Simmons coverage direct: marcstein.substack.com – 1:40 PM
More on this storyline
The core leaders on the 76ers — such as Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle — and most of the team were set to take a jet to see Simmons before being turned away, sources said. Multiple sources said Simmons didn’t want his teammates, some of whom he considers friends, to make the Philadelphia-to-Los Angeles commute out of courtesy because he won’t change his mind on wanting a trade. -via The Athletic / September 25, 2021
The 76ers’ training camp begins this upcoming week, with Media Day on Monday. Simmons has mentally checked out as a member of the 76ers, sources said, meaning whether or not he ever appears in Philadelphia this season the organization may never again receive the same dedicated player. -via The Athletic / September 25, 2021
So far, the 76ers have not received an offer they deem enough to move Simmons and the franchise has wanted Simmons back to rejoin an Eastern Conference contender. Philadelphia has no trade imminent, although teams are calling, according to sources. Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his max contract. -via The Athletic / September 25, 2021
