PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Former Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons is expected to be on the Brooklyn Nets bench Thursday night in Philly, which will surely be quite the sight.
In case you hadn’t heard, Simmons’ exit from Philadelphia certainly wasn’t smooth. Long story short, he requested a trade, didn’t play after said request, and by the fortune of another complicated situation with James Harden in Brooklyn, the Sixers and Nets were able to strike a deal prior to the trade deadline.
Simmons will not play Thursday night because his back flared up as he began his ramp-up process with Brooklyn. He has yet to debut for the Nets. Since he’ll be on the bench, and it’s customary to celebrate a significant former player when he returns to his old home as a visitor, will the 76ers give Simmons a tribute video on the Jumbotron?
“Well, that’s a loaded question,” said Sixers head coach Doc Rivers, but he said he’s all for it.
“Ben did a lot of good things here. It didn’t end well, just like marriages and all kinds of other things don’t end well. But Ben did a lot of good things here. And so, it’s funny — I don’t know if we are or not, but if we did, I’d have no issues with it.”
Related podcast: KYW Newsradio's Dave Uram previews Simmons' return to Philly as a Net in this episode of The Jawncast:
It’s fair to say a tribute video would likely draw a predominantly negative reaction from the crowd at the Wells Fargo Center. Many fans were upset with Simmons’ play, dating back to the postseason, and how he handled the ensuing months after losing to the Atlanta Hawks. Frustrated fans were especially upset that Simmons never added a jump shot to his in-game repertoire during his time in Philadelphia.
“Our fans are so silent,” Rivers joked, “I can’t imagine anything happening.”