The Sixers have fined Ben Simmons for missing the team’s six-game road trip, the latest chapter in the increasingly tense saga between the two sides, according to a report from The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Simmons has yet to play a game yet for the team this season after requesting a trade this offseason. Simmons is currently working with team doctors to help him mentally prepare to return to the court.
Here is what Charania had to say in his latest report:
“Simmons believes that the team continues to try to force him back onto the floor despite his mental health concerns and are disregarding his mental health issues. But the teams position has been until there is information otherwise from their mental health specialist or Simmons that he should be expected to ramp up for a return to the court. As Simmons’ agent Rich Paul told me last week, this is no longer about a trade, but Simmons receiving the help off the court that he needs.”
The Sixers and Simmons appear to be at a stale mate when it comes to Simmons saying he is not yet mentally ready to play. Simmons at first refused to work with team doctors, but has since started to do so after the team fined him.
The Sixers are one game into their six-game road trip, with trips to Utah, Denver, Portland, Sacramento and Golden State coming up. They have lost four games in a row, dropping them to seventh in the Eastern Conference.