Ben Simmons Thrown Out of 76ers Training Camp, Receives a 1-Game Suspension

Sports

Ben Simmons threw a temper tantrum at Philadelphia 76ers practice today, refusing to, well, practice, and got slapped with a 1-game suspension and was thrown out of the gym by head coach Doc Rivers. Who does he think he is, not taking practice seriously? We ain’t talking about a game, though; we’re talking about practice!

He was already late to training camp, but when Simmons did join the team – in the loosest possible sense – the professional bricklayer routinely ignored the 76ers coaches and engaged with the developmental staff with the G-Leaguers because he’s an absolute child. The Athletic reported that he also mostly trained by himself and did but a few defensive drills over the course of the two days he was present. Simmons would not participate in an offensive scrimmage and was reluctant to “physically and mentally engage” with the team. Which begs the question: Why even bother showing up?

“I thought he was a distraction today. I didn’t think he wanted to do what everyone else was doing,” Doc Rivers told reporters Tuesday. But the fire and fury of Joel Embiid would seal the fate of the franchise, all but ensuring the 25-year-old’s departure.

“At the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody,” the 76ers big man said. “We don’t get paid to come out here to babysit somebody and that’s not our job, and I’m sure my teammates feel that way.”

Certainly, this marks the end of the Philly tenure for Simmons. He has been angling for a trade since the offseason began, and even when his teammates were coming to see him in Los Angeles, he turned them away and simply sulked alone. Who would want this three-ring circus?