Ben Simmons says issues received so nasty between him and the 76ers … that on the top of their rigidity, it felt like everybody within the org. was “just trying to f*** with me now.”
Simmons lastly opened up about his breakup with Philly on JJ Redick‘s “The Old Man and the Three“ podcast … and he mentioned through the worst a part of their relationship again in Oct. 2021, he thought a number of high-ranking individuals within the franchise, together with head coach Doc Rivers, have been out to get him.
“I actually spoke to Doc before practice,” Simmons mentioned when recalling the infamous fall workout that he was booted from and later suspended over. “I was like, ‘Doc, I’m not ready. Mentally, I’m not ready. Please, just understand that.'”
“I tried to let him know prior,” Simmons continued. “He was like, ‘Well, I’m going to put you in any way.'”
Simmons mentioned early on within the apply, Rivers put him on the ground. Predictably, Simmons did not deal with it effectively, and Rivers kicked him out. The Sixers later banned him 1 sport for all of it.
He mentioned it was only one of some issues the Sixers did that month that had rubbed him the flawed means.
“It seems like everyone’s just trying to f*** with me now,” Simmons mentioned, recalling the occasions. “Like, I’m getting fined for not lifting weights, but, physically, I’m like one of the strongest guys on the f***ing team.”
“So they’re fining me for little things. It was just a buildup.”
Simmons did admit “obviously I didn’t handle things the right way, but also the team didn’t either and the people who had that power.”
The 26-year-old was finally traded to the Nets for James Harden in February.
Ben Simmons has taken the ground in Philly. pic.twitter.com/UCMJqkqifH
— Nets Videos (@SNYNets) March 10, 2022
@SNYNets
“For me, I was trying to — for myself, personally — get to a good place,” Simmons mentioned of all of the drama. “To get back on the floor. Getting on the floor was my priority and trying to get myself to a place where I was mentally good to do that.”
“And I was in such a bad place where I was like, ‘F***. Like, I’m trying to get here and you guys are, like, throwing all these other things at me to where you’re not helping.’ That’s all I wanted was help.”
Simmons didn’t play for the Nets following the commerce — and he finally underwent again surgical procedure in May. He’s anticipated to be able to play for Brooklyn this season.