"I'm In Charge Here!": Doc Rivers Blasts Media As Sixers Saga Continues at Media Day

 

The Philadelphia 76ers Media Day got underway with a joint news conference by GM Daryl Morey and head coach Doc Rivers, who are apparently still convinced—despite all signs to the contrary—that they can somehow make amends with Ben Simmons.

And Rivers quickly got agitated with a reporter's questions about his situation with Simmons:

Doc Rivers snapping at a reporter when asked about Ben Simmons saying "I'm in charge here" 👀#NBATwitter #NBAMediaDay pic.twitter.com/ABReFNi5Te

— Talkin’ NBA 🗣️ (@_Talkin_NBA) September 27, 2021

"I'm in charge here," Rivers barked at a media member for interrupting him as he once again tried to explain his infamous postgame comment about Simmons after the Sixers were eliminated this year.  

Sixers Media Day is off to a jolly start.

Doc Rivers says he doesn’t believe his comments about Ben Simmons not being a championship-caliber point guard is the reason Ben wants a trade. pic.twitter.com/MOMZeqx8ZD

— Chris W. Crouse 🏙 (@NBACrouse) September 27, 2021

"Clearly, clearly, what I said was 'Guys, I'm not answering that. I don't know right now." Rivers was re-living the moment after their Game 7 loss, in which Simmons refused to take a shot in the 4th quarter for the 4th straight game, when Rivers was asked if Simmons could be a 'championship point guard', and Doc was quoted as answering "I don't know."

This exchange is said to be at the heart of why Simmons has "checked-out" on the Sixers, and why he has demanded a trade, and is not reporting for training camp. 

"I still think the world of him as a player," said Rivers on Monday. "He almost won the Defensive Player of the Year award."

GM Morey, sitting by Rivers' side, says he's disappointed that Simmons was not there at Media Day, but is still holding on to the notion that he will be back. “We have a lot of optimism that we can make it work here."

This flies in the face of Simmons' reaction over the weekend when a Sixers contingent, including a group of players led by Joel Embiid tried to fly out to Los Angeles to meet with the holdout guard. He told them, flat-out, not to come.

This drama will continue to play out as training camp officially opens tomorrow, and Simmons would start to be subject to daily fines for not reporting, should the Sixers decide to go that route.

Photo Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports