Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons isn’t going to change, again
The Ben Simmons drama continues to unfold. Nothing really has changed for neither him nor the Philadelphia 76ers in the grand scheme of things. However, according to Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN, Simmons has officially put all of his cards on the table.
ESPN Sources: Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons will not report for opening of training camp next week and intends to never play another game for the franchise. Simmons hasn’t spoken to team since a late August meeting when he communicated this message to Sixers officials.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) September 21, 2021
Based on stories in August of 2021, this holds to the same pattern as to what was communicated during this offseason. Should Sixers fans be surprised? Absolutely not. Simmons has proven that once he has his mind set on something, he sticks to it, if not double downs on it.
The Philadelphia 76ers shouldn’t be surprised that Simmons won’t change.
For better or worse, Simmons has stuck with his convictions during his tenure with the 76ers. He’s been the point guard for almost the whole time of his career in Philly, with exception of a few games in the NBA Bubble. While he’s great as a playmaker it’s not his best position by far.
More glaring is his unwillingness to shoot. When former head coach Brett Brown challenged Simmons to attempt one 3-pointer per game, he did the complete opposite. He has not improved one aspect of his offensive game in his five NBA seasons.
Not only does Simmons hold true to his convictions but he doubles down on them as well. Considering how steadfast he is when it comes to his shooting, Sixers fans shouldn’t be surprised if he holds out until he gets a trade, regardless of the financial consequences.
In short, this recent statement from Simmons’ camp falls in line with what was already suspected and Philadelphia 76ers fans shouldn’t expect him to pivot from this based on past behaviors.
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