Ben Simmons continues to not play for the Philadelphia 76ers as the drama between him and the team seems to have no end in sight.
Many are fed up with the 25-year-old All-Star, and that includes Charles Barkley.
The Hall of Famer and Sixers great did not hold back on his feelings about the situation with Simmons during Tuesday’s “Inside the NBA,” calling on the team to “kick his ass.”
“This dude has done everything he can not to be re-recruited,” Barkley said. “[The Sixers] started off the season begging him to come back. They have massaged him, Shaq. They went to go see him. He said, ‘don’t come see me.’ He came, and then he acted like a jerk in practice. … He started acting like a jerk and they kicked him out. Then they gave him another chance. They said, ‘OK, you say you got some issues.’ He said, ‘No, I don’t want to see your guys.’ They start fining him again. Now he’s back.
“They’ve bent over backwards to kiss this dude’s ass. Now they start kicking his ass. There’s only two: you kiss somebody’s ass, and kick their ass. It’s time for them to kick his ass.”
"This dude has done everything he can not to be re-recruited."
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) November 10, 2021
Chuck talks about Ben Simmons and how the Sixers should move going forward. pic.twitter.com/hVvxHDDRJZ
The Sixers cannot discipline Simmons for possibly lying about his mental health issues, as it would be a difficult claim to prove.
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But they did fin Simmons on Friday $360,000 for missing Thursday’s game and planned to continue fining him for every game he missed until he starts cooperating with team physicians on his mental health issues.
Simmons reportedly met with the team specialists on Monday but it is still unclear if he will suit up for the 76ers again.
The rumor mill was circulating this week again, with the Boston Celtics reportedly engaging in trade talks with the Sixers regarding Simmons.
Sixers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey continues to stand firm in wanting a high-level player in return for Simmons and until he fines that right deal, the drama will likely go on.
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