Ben Simmons is playing basketball again for the Philadelphia 76ers. How his mindset has changed since ending his holdout and reporting to the team last week, though, seems poised to remain a major question mark heading into the Sixers' regular-season opener.
Simmons practiced with the Sixers on Sunday for the first time since randomly returning to team facilities on October 11th. He'd previously been limited to individual training and on-court workouts with team personnel, unable to join Philadelphia on the practice floor due to testing and distancing guidelines for COVID-19.
Ben Simmons participated in Sunday’s practice. #Sixers
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) October 17, 2021
Just because he took the floor with his teammates doesn't mean Simmons is making himself available to the public, though. The team told reporters on Sunday that the three-time All-Star won't be speaking with media.
Ben Simmons won’t speak at Sixers practice today, per team PR
— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) October 17, 2021
Simmons was apparently off the practice floor by the time media members were let in the doors, too.
Frankly, there wouldn't be so much to glean from Simmons finally ending his silence anyway. Never especially verbose or candid in the interview setting, it would be shocking if he suddenly opened up to the media while facing so much scrutiny for both his underwhelming playoff performance and decision to try and force a trade from the Sixers.
Philadelphia opens the regular season on Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans on the road.
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