Sixers news: The reason Ben Simmons is no longer getting fined

The Sixers have stopped fining Ben Simmons for missed games and practices. Simmoms has asked for time away to work on his mental and physical well-being.

The Philadelphia 76ers were no longer fine disgruntled All-Star Ben Simmons for missing games and practices, now that Simmons is excused for personal reasons.

During an appearance on “NBA Today” on Monday, ESPN's Ramona Shelburne detailed the latest development between Simmons and the Sixers. According to Shelburne, because Simmons' absence is due to personal mental health issues, the team will halt their financial penalties.

“The Sixers have stopped fining Ben Simmons,” Shelburne said. “That was a big part of this … the first couple weeks here … He was not showing up for games, when he did not report to camp. They've stopped fining him. Some of this is because there's a standard provision in player contracts that says if you're dealing with a mental health issue — which Ben Simmons has reported to the team that he is, and he wants to work on himself mentally and physically this week. They've taken that in good faith, and said ‘OK, we're taking that that you are working on yourself mentally and physically.'”

As of two weeks ago, Simmons had been fined $1.4 million by the organization.

Here is video of the @ramonashelburne report on Philly ceasing the fines Simmons had been accumulating. Simmons told teammates Friday that he is not mentally ready to play and the Sixers, according to a source close to the situation, have offered Simmons any "resources" he seeks. https://t.co/4aW51VvOti

— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) October 25, 2021

Marc Stein confirmed Shelburne's reporting later in the day. According to Stein and Shelburne, the Sixers have offered Simmons any “resources” he needs to help him get in the right mindset to return to basketball activities.

“Right now, everybody is in a good place, and the fines are not accumulating,” Shelburne said. “And that was an issue for Ben Simmons. … In the first couple weeks of this stand-off.”

Simmons has missed the 76ers' first three games of the season. Philly is 2-1. They face the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Tuesday before returning home to the Wells Fargo Center for four consecutive games.