Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers joined Stephen A. Smith and Kendrick Perkins on ESPN's First Take on Wednesday morning to discuss the Ben Simmons situation and his future in Philadelphia.
Rivers confirmed that he had a conversation with Simmons where Simmons explained that he wants out of Philadelphia.
"It was a good conversation and he gave us reasons, which we obviously didn't agree with," Rivers said of his conversation with Simmons. "But in sports there's been so many times this has happened that hasn't been reported and the guy has come back."
"I just love how he plays, I love a lot of the things he does for our team," Rivers continued.
"I look at last year as the first step, not the last step, but we have to go through all of this to get him back."
"We would love to get Ben back and if we can, we're going to do that."
On Tuesday, PhillyVoice's Kyle Neubeck reported that Simmons is unable to forgive Rivers for his comments following the Sixers' Game 7 elimination loss to the Hawks, where Rivers said he was not sure if Simmons was able to be a point guard on a championship team.
Rivers said he was misrepresented and he did not mean the Sixers could not win with Simmons. Rivers said he explained that to Simmons and his agent Rich Paul.
"Ben knows, Rich knows, and I know," Rivers said.
And then later yesterday, ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski reported that Simmons does not plan to play another game for the 76ers, adding that Simmons is "clearly aware of sanctions available to the organizations to fine and suspend him, including withholding salary."
Earlier in the show, Smith mentioned that the Sixers and Blazers have discussed a deal for Simmons that would bring C.J. McCollum, Robert Covington, and first-round picks to Philadelphia.
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Simmons, 25, is under contract through the 2024-25 season, where his base salary ranges from $33 million this season to $40.3 million in the final season of the deal.