Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons has been thrown out of practice and suspended for one game by the team, ruling him out of their season-opener at New Orleans on Thursday (NZ time).
Simmons was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team, after not engaging during practice. He was tossed by coach Doc Rivers, who was later asked if he thought Simmons wanted to be a part of the team.
"Well, today not, obviously - we told him to go home," Rivers said. "But hopefully at some point, yeah, I do."
Rivers said he booted Simmons from practice for being a "distraction", after he declined several times to sub into a drill.
"I didn't think he wanted to do what everybody else was doing," Rivers said. "It was early, it wasn't a big deal.
"I just told him he should leave and we went on with practice.
"At the end of the day, as a coach, I have to protect the team. Team first, and then we get to the other part.
"Today, I thought it was more important to focus on the team."
Sixers superstar centre Joel Embiid had much stronger words for Simmons.
"At this point, I don't care about that man, honestly," he said. "He does whatever he wants.
"I'm only focused on trying to make the team better, win some games, play hard every night, try to lead the guys that we have here. Our chemistry has been excellent, despite everything that's been happening the last few months, so like I said, I don't really care.
"At the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody."
Simmons did not meet with the media and reportedly is no longer conducting interviews.
On Sunday, Simmons practiced for the first time since reporting to the team on October 11, after an acrimonious offseason that included a trade demand. He missed all four of Philadelphia's pre-season contests, leading to US$1.4 million in fines by the team.
Tuesday was Simmons' third practice, since clearing NBA health-and-safety re-entry protocols.
Simmons has been a reluctant participant in practice since returning from his holdout.
Rivers says the 25-year-old is in "decent shape", adding that Simmons might not have played against New Orleans anyway, due to his conditioning.
"Still not, obviously, game shape," Rivers says.
The three-time All-Star averaged 14.3 points, 6.9 assists and 7.2 rebounds in 58 games last season, but just 11.9 points in the playoffs, while shooting a dismal 34.2 percent from the free-throw line.
Reuters
