Ben Simmons Reportedly Met with "Team-Recommended" Mental Health Specialist
The depleted Sixers lost to the Knicks on Monday night. Forgettable game, and not worth writing about. There were Knicks fans infesting the Wells Fargo Center.
So here’s a Ben Simmons update via Adrian Wojnarowski at ESPN:
After initial resistance, Philadelphia 76ers All-Star guard Ben Simmons met with a team-recommended medical specialist to discuss his mental health on Monday, sources told ESPN.
It is unclear what Monday’s meeting means for the Sixers’ ultimate hopes of a Simmons return to play, but it was a change of direction for Simmons in his dealings with the organization.
The Sixers had begun to fine Simmons for failing to live up to obligations in his contract after they found him to be uncooperative about partnering with them on his mental health and taking the steps needed to work together toward an eventual return to play. As part of the Sixers’ requests, the team wanted him to meet with its own mental health professionals — which Simmons finally did on Monday.
To rewind, Ben Simmons decided not to show up to media day and training camp. He began to be fined. Then he came back, half-assed his way through practice with his phone in his pocket, got kicked out, and was suspended. Two of his Philly-area properties are up for sale. Now we’re in a taboo mental health loop, where some people think he legitimately needs help and others believe he’s faking it.
It’s a mess, but the Sixers are playing good basketball without him. They’re 8-3, and the only thing slowing them down is this COVID outbreak sweeping through the team. The timing is not great, with Milwaukee and Toronto in Philly this week before the team kicks off a six-game road swing.
This has been your Ben Simmons update.