Sixers star Simmons excluded from training, then suspended

ANKARA

Philadelphia 76ers' All-Star guard-forward Ben Simmons will miss the team's season opener after he was dismissed from Tuesday's training session for "conduct detrimental to the team."

"Sixers coach Doc Rivers threw Ben Simmons out of practice today and the suspension came shortly thereafter, sources tell ESPN," NBA insider Adrian Wojnarowski said on Twitter.

"Simmons’ reluctance to physically and mentally engage with the Sixers since his return has been a consistent theme, sources tell ESPN," Wojnarowski said in another tweet.

Meanwhile, the Eastern Conference franchise said Simmons, 25, was "suspended for one game due to conduct detrimental to the team."

The Sixers said Simmons cannot play for the team in the season opener Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans at the New Orleans' Smoothie King Center.

The top pick in the 2016 draft, Simmons is a valuable member of the Sixers.

Simmons played 58 games and averaged 14.3 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 6.9 assists in the 2020-21 season.

​​​​​​​He won the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year award.

Simmons' teammate Embiid does not care for him

The 76ers All-Star center Joel Embiid said he does not care about Simmons for his drama and will not babysit him.

"At this point I don't care about that man honestly. He does whatever he wants. That's not my job," Embiid said of Simmons.

"I'm only focused on trying to make the team better, win some games, play hard every night, and try to lead the guys that we have here, and I'm sure they feel the same way because our chemistry has been excellent despite everything that's been happening for the last few months. So like I said, I don't really care," the 27-year-old told the media.

"At the end of the day, our job is not to babysit somebody," Embiid said, adding that the players' duty is to play the game on the court and win.