Ben Simmons is no longer being fined by the Sixers for missed practices and games, according to reports from ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne (video link) and Marc Stein of Substack (Twitter link).
While it’s unclear exactly when the team stopped assessing those fines, it’s probably safe to assume the decision was made last Friday, after Simmons met with the club and told them he wasn’t mentally ready to play.
As Shelburne notes, there’s a provision in the Collective Bargaining Agreement that protects a player’s salary in the event that he misses time for mental health reasons, which is one reason why the Sixers have stopped those fines from accumulating. The Sixers are taking Simmons’ claim in good faith and have offered him any resources he needs to work through the situation.
A holdout early in training camp and the preseason, Simmons racked up nearly $2MM in fines in missed games, practices, and meetings, including the salary lost due to being suspended for Philadelphia’s regular season opener. It remains unclear if he’ll be able to recoup any of that money via arbitration or an agreement with the Sixers.
Although there has been no indication that Simmons has wavered in his desire to be traded, his standoff with the franchise doesn’t appear as acrimonious at the moment as it has been at times. “Right now, everybody’s in a good place,” Shelburne said during her ESPN appearance.
Between Simmons and Irving, you have a weeks worth of reading. Both getting equal time with reporting time.
Good move by the sixers. If he has a mental issues, give him the resources he needs.
Seems like being afraid to own up on your mistakes and being unable to work on your weaknesses are “mental-health” issues now.
What a hustle by Klutch and Simmons.
I mean it is pretty depressing that he can’t hit a jump shot .
dude spends all day in the gym, but would get owned by a 10 year old in a game of Horse
very sad indeed
Smart move by Simmons to beat the system.
get him some xanax and lets go.
Does he have metal health? Seem like Irving did too and he was ok to see a concert. So I don’t always believe what players say
Although I lay a mountain of blame on Rivers for this mess (who I think is the worst of all our team’s coaches right now, which is saying something), I can’t believe the team is bending over backwards trying to appease Simmons. I guess it’ll help to already be in that position since Morey is gonna take it up the rear in whatever trade he finally makes.
@brian
Just curious, why blame Rivers for a situation he walked into? He didn’t draft him, coach him or had any influence on him prior to this season. Aside from being blunt publicly what did he do contributing to this debacle?
Brian – I don’t think the Sixers are trying to appease Simmons. I think they realize that by playing the mental health card, he’s put them in a dangerous PR box. If the Sixers continue to fine him now, the backlash from the woke police will be ugly.
TWolves should offer up Beasley and a single #1 pick an the # 2 pick they got for Rubio from CLeveland……thats all i’d give them.
Oh yeah, I am sure that will get a deal done lol
Do the Sixers get a kickback from insurance?
Quite frankly this whole situation is a bunch of baloney, the Sixers should have never drafted this Balloon Head!!!
Ben Simmons should be absolutely ashamed of himself, as he only started using this reasoning when he began receiving fines. This is a total slap in the face to any NBA individual who may actually be experiencing REAL mental health issues as reasoning for not suiting up. And before anyone comes at me with the whole “How do you know he isn’t having real issues” crap, all you gotta do is follow the story from the beginning. He is using this as a ploy to get paid while his whiny behind sits out for a trade. No GM in their right mind will trade for this piece of human dung now. I believe in Karma, and you got some coming your way there big Ben! Unbelievable…
while i do believe it could be possible he has used it as an excuse not to be fined, what if he really is having mental issues? its hard to have ur name dragged thru the media everyday, all day. by people on message boards w. an opinion and calling u human dung as well as the day x day pressures he has to deal w. from friends & family. to losing 2mil in close to 2 weeks. i dont think its so crazy to believe that he is mentally exhausted even though it is his own fault. still can be mentally drained and not 100% focused on basketball.
not like he’s in the media for no reason.
the guy quit on a playoff calibour team
not saying hes not deserving of criticism, but on the otherside of it that can be mentally draining.
How dare you bring logic into this jkom …we are talking about feelings here
Finally PHI does something good… now pay him back all the $ you took from him, that will help the situation, then… just trade the man wherever he wants to go, for whatever you are given, so we can move on & enjoy his talents for the rest of the season!
show up to work, get paid
#FreeBenSimmons
Yeah you don’t get to take the extra year and 40 something million to sign an extension with the home team and then demand a trade for poor play in playoffs of your own doing. That’s a slap in the face of the team that drafted and invested in you. If he wants to give that back, then it would be more sincere which we know isn’t happening
Ben Simmons’ use of a mental health clause in his contract as leverage is low. It’s a slap in the face to those who deal with mental health disorders every day of their lives. He might qualify as NPD, but I’m not sure that would be covered.
He should be ashamed of himself.
Dream job: work for the Sixers. Getting paid for doing “nothing”. Surreal and ridiculous at the same time.
How do you know he’s not suffering from mental illness? Everyone on here must be a psychiatrist coz y’all are analysing a dude without knowing him.
Maybe the way he played last finals gave him PTSD or he’s anxious about the reaction of the crowd, or he could be depressed that he’s stuck in a team he don’t want to be at.
Would you be happy if your job sucked and gave you mental instability?
Trade him and let him be happy.
If he’s s**t still then analyse him.
Who do you guys think you are?
@El Don #freebensimmons
At 40 mil per year I could live
Now, what’s to prevent other players from using this mental-health issue clause – when they have issues with their respective teams.
This Simmons case is clear-cut fraud, yet the SIXERS, NBA and NBPA seems to have taken the bait, hook, line, and sinker.
“This mental health issue clause”
Looks like we have an expert here!
It’s written right there on the article itself.
Next time, it’s best to read the article rather than go straight to the comments section.
Perhaps you should draft something detailing the “clear-cut” fraud and send it to the Sixers. I’m sure they would appreciate your assistance in recouping the millions of dollars they are paying Simmons.
This is more the agent than Ben. Another reason to just move him and Maxsey. This will become an Adele song, I’m feeling. So tired and bored of this. Right now Sixers can’t sell cheap. So they really have to go the long route here. Bens agent should be out there accommodating a trade. Instead he’s creating more conflict. >>>>>>>
Kings, Kings, Kings, Kings
First, Simmons refuses to show up for practice or preseason games. Then, he finds out the Sixers are going to fine him for being absent, so he shows up to practice. Also, let’s not forget he claimed to have back issues to try to get out of practice which were unfounded by the Sixers medical team. Then, he decides that he will not participate in the Sixers practice, so Doc Rivers sends him home and suspends him without pay. Now, Simmons claims he has mental issues. Something sounds fishy to me! Mental health issues should not be used as an excuse to get paid!
Man if you ever had back pain, which I have been suffering of for more than 30 years, I can guarantee you that physicians don’t know much about it!
If Ben says his back hurts & docs say he is ok… I will take always Ben’s word above any doctor… the reason been I have gone to the docs dozens of times with my back killing me & they just say, oh is ok can’t see anything wrong!
Never forget that we know our bodies better than any doctor, we know if something is wrong even before they do, so just stop your skepticism & take the man’s word for it, unless you can proof otherwise… don’t think so, right?
you’ve been having back problems since you were younger than 17? tough luck.
Tell me about it, man!
Totally sucks!