Tag: Simmons

Nets’ Simmons says Sixers unsupportive amid mental health struggle

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Australian NBA guard Ben Simmons said in a podcast posted Thursday that he didn’t feel supported by the Philadelphia 76ers as he dealt with mental health issues. Simmons hadn’t played a game for the Sixers in the 2021-22 season when he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in the deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia last February. Simmons was the 2018 NBA rookie of the year and an […]

Simmons ‘mentally ready’ to return after Nets move

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Ben Simmons said Tuesday he is mentally ready to return to basketball following his trade to the Brooklyn Nets after a turbulent end to his Philadelphia 76ers career. The Australian star has not played at all this season after requesting a trade from the Sixers in August, citing mental health issues. The 25-year-old point guard finally got his wish last week when he secured a move to Brooklyn as […]

NBA Nets trade Harden to 76ers in deal for Simmons, others: reports

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Three-time NBA scoring champion James Harden was traded by the Brooklyn Nets to the Philadelphia 76ers in a deal for Australian Ben Simmons and others, according to multiple reports Thursday. ESPN and The Athletic reported the deal will deliver the Sixers a backcourt dynamo in Harden as well as Paul Millsap in exchange for Simmons, who has sat out the 2021-22 season, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond and two first-round […]

Sixers ace Embiid unhappy with ‘disrespectful’ Simmons

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid on Thursday accused unsettled star Ben Simmons of “disrespecting” his team-mates as he attempts to force a trade out of the club. In comments to reporters, Embiid hit back at suggestions coming from Simmons’s camp this week that he wanted to leave was because he felt the team was being built to suit Embiid’s skills. “The situation is disappointing, borderline kind of disrespectful to […]

NBA’s Simmons quits Australia’s Olympic basketball squad

SYDNEY, Australia (AFP) — Ben Simmons withdrew from Australia’s Olympic basketball squad Tuesday, with officials saying he was having a “rough time” in the NBA and wanted to focus on improving his skills. The 24-year-old guard was heavily criticised for his wayward shooting when the top-seeded Philadelphia 76ers were bundled out of the NBA playoffs by the unfancied Atlanta Hawks earlier this month. National coach Brian Goorjian said he and the rest of the squad […]

Simmons among nine NBA stars on Australia Olympicsquad

MELBOURNE, Australia (AFP) — Two-time NBA All-Star Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, Utah Jazz forward Joe Ingles and San Antonio Spurs’ Patty Mills were included Wednesday in Australia’s Tokyo Olympic squad as they target an elusive gold medal. They are among nine NBA players on the team, although new head coach Brian Goorjian also opted for some young blood as Australia look to challenge basketball powers United States, Serbia and Spain for the podium. […]

Simmons faces injury layoff after dislocating knee

ORLANDO, United States (AFP) — Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons faces an indefinite injury layoff after suffering an injury to his left knee, the team said Thursday. Australian ace Simmons limped out of the third quarter during the Sixers’ defeat of the Washington Wizards, and did not return. An MRI scan revealed Simmons had suffered a subluxation of his left patella, which typically takes several weeks to heal. Sixers coach Brett Brown would not be […]

76ers’s Aussie guard Simmons at full strength heading into NBA restart

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Philadelphia’s All-Star guard Ben Simmons says he’s at full strength heading into the NBA restart, having used the coronavirus shutdown to recover from injury. “I’m feeling better than I was when I started this season,” the 23-year-old told reporters on a Zoom call on Thursday. The NBA season has been suspended since March 11 because of the coronavirus pandemic, but Simmons hasn’t played since February 22 when he suffered a […]

Aussie Simmons scores triple double to power Sixers past Clippers

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Australia’s Ben Simmons delivered his sixth triple-double of the season as the Philadelphia 76ers won their 25th home game with a 110-103 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Tuesday. Simmons, of Melbourne, finished with 26 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists and American center Joel Embiid had 26 points and nine rebounds for the Sixers, who extended their win streak to three straight. Embiid shook off some boos […]

Sixers star Simmons out of Aussie World Cup bid

LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Ben Simmons, newly signed to a five-year, $170 million contract extension with the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers, confirmed Tuesday he won’t play for Australia at the World Cup. In a statement posted on Twitter, the Melbourne-born star said he wouldn’t make the trip to the FIBA championship that tips off in China on August 31. “I wanted to let everyone know that after consulting with my representation, I’ve made the difficult decision […]

Simmons, Doncic headline NBA Rising Stars lineup

NEW YORK, United States (AFP) — Reigning NBA Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons and current candidate Luka Doncic are among the young talents named Tuesday to play the All-Star weekend Rising Stars challenge. Australia’s Simmons and the Dallas Mavericks’ Slovenian sensation Doncic will play for the World Team in the game that pits 10 first- and second-year players from the United States against 10 counterparts from overseas. Utah’s Donovan Mitchell, runner-up to Simmons in […]

Sixers overcome James to vault into third place

    LOS ANGELES, United States (AFP) — Australia’s Ben Simmons won the battle of the triple doubles with LeBron James as the Philadelphia 76ers rolled to their 13th consecutive victory with a 132-130 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers. Simmons finished with 27 points, 15 rebounds and 13 assists on Friday as the Sixers surged to a 30 point first-half lead and scored 78 points by halftime. James tallied 44 points, 11 assists and 11 rebounds […]