The Sixer Sense
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The Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons Friendship Will Help Recovery

By Josh Wilson

Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) is greeted by center Joel Embiid (L) during a press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2016; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Philadelphia 76ers number one overall draft pick Ben Simmons (R) is greeted by center Joel Embiid (L) during a press conference at the Philadelphia College Of Osteopathic Medicine. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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The relationship between Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid is tight. That’s going to help Simmons power through his recovery this season with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons are both technical rookies (at least, if Simmons doesn’t sit out for the entire season). They definitely don’t have the same background, but they are two of the four rookies that are debuting for the Sixers this season.

Because of that immediate similarity, the two of the Sixers got along well almost immediately once they got together in Philadelphia. They clearly gel as friends, and seem to have already sparked a brother-like relationship.

It’s not that far off of an assumption based on interactions.

On Twitter, the two of them can often be seen taking playful jabs at each other on a regular basis.

https://twitter.com/BenSimmons25/status/788939706419572736

Perhaps it all started for the pair when they were pushed as the two sole Sixers at the team’s Beach Bash prior to training camp. Or maybe it happened when the Sixers got them together at one of the first get togethers at the team’s training facility.

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In all reality, it probably happened when we weren’t looking. The two were approaching a new seasons in a fairly similar manner. One was coming right out of college and about to play his first pro season. The other was coming off of some adversity-filled years of recovering from injury and also entering his first season.

Whatever the case, Simmons has spoken highly of Embiid. Talking to The Metro, Simmons said, “Off the court we’re like brothers. We have fun.”

It’s natural in life that we tend to gravitate towards people that are similar to us and in similar situations, and that’s proven true by Simmons and Embiid.

But now Simmons and Embiid have even more things in common. Simmons recently fractured the fifth metatarsal bone in his foot, something that will keep him out of play until at least January.

Injuries are nothing new whatsoever to Embiid, who spent the two first full years of his career recovering from a broken foot. The bone he broke was different from the bone Simmons broke, but it’s a similar injury.

For a player like Simmons, who was recently on top of the world, having an injury like this can be devastating emotionally. That can hurt the recovery, as well as the morale once he’s back on the court. Keeping that morale at a high throughout the recovery will ensure that once he is back on the floor, he can get going with momentum on his side.

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Embiid can offer his experiences with Simmons. He can share with him what helped him get through the hard times of being injured. Hopefully, Simmons will never have nearly the same troubles as Embiid.

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The knowledge that can be shared between these two young players is important for Simmons’ recovery, and it’s important that their friendship has opened those doors. Not only are they coworkers, but they are friends. That starts to help the team now, but will become even more important when they get on the floor together.