Simmons Refuses Meeting with Philly; Sixers Cancel Flight

 

NBA Insider Shams Charania is reporting that the Philadelphia 76ers planned to fly to Los Angeles this week to meet with Ben Simmons, but the holdout guard told them not to bother.

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: https://t.co/9NEXaEBssE

— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) September 25, 2021

According to Charania, the sources said that the Sixers' contingent set to fly to LA included Joel Embiid, Tobias Harris and Matisse Thybulle, in an attempt to convince him to return. But they were told by the Simmons camp not to come, he would not be meeting with them. 

The 25-year-old three-time All-Star is steadfast in his refusal to ever play for the Sixers again, and will be holding out until a trade is made. He is "mentally checked out", according to the sources. Insider Brian Windhorst says that Simmons simply "doesn’t want to be in front of those fans …I don’t think he intends to ever show his face there again.”

Coach Doc Rivers said trying to talk to the Simmons camp has been a frustrating experience, hilariously claiming “There’s times that I think we’re getting through, and there’s times that I think that I’m talking to people who still believe Trump won the election. So I’m not sure."

Training camp begins next week, with Media Day on Monday, and at that point, the team can start fining Simmons for his absence on a daily basis. Simmons has 4 years and $147 million left on his contract. 

Photo Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports