Ben Simmons did a fantastic job handling losing his starting sport. Simmons came off the bench for two games, but he has re-entered the starting lineup. He went into the season with a positive mindset. From recent reports, it appears he started displaying good sportsmanship over the summer. According to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN, Simmons reached out to “mend fences” with Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid and others during this past summer.
Ben Simmons Reached Out To Joel Embiid
Although Shelburne noted that any talk of a reunion between Simmons and the 76ers is considered “unlikely,” the news is still surprising. This is due to the way Simmons left the 76ers back in 2022 after requesting a trade from the organization that drafted him and where he played four successful seasons. During his tenure in Philadelphia, Simmons was a three-time All-Star (2019-2021), Rookie of the Year in 2017-18, two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team member (2019-20, 2020-21), and NBA steals leader (2019-20).
Simmons and Embiid’s Lack of Chemistry
After Simmons was traded to the Nets in February of 2022, Embiid told the media that winning wasn’t Simmons’ top priority.
“It’s unfortunate winning was not the biggest factor,” Embiid said. “It’s unfortunate that for him having his own team and, I guess, being a star was more his priorities.”
Before the 2022-22 season, Simmons shared with ESPN’s Nick Friedel that he and Embiid “never really spoke” when they played together. Simmons said:
“I don’t think there was really a relationship there. Like in terms of a friendship? You can try as hard as you want to try to be close to somebody, be their friend, whatever it is, but everyone is different as people, so for me, it’s never personal. I don’t have any anger or hate towards him. He is who he is and I am who I am. And we’ve got our personal lives. And work is basketball, so in that moment, my goal is to win and I got to win with Jo. He’s a great player, we just didn’t get it done.”
Simmons and Embiid are in the NBA category of duos that had issues. They join the ranks of legendary pairings like Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O’Neal, LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, as well as Kevin Durant and Draymond Green.
What Could Have Been
The 76ers organization made the right decision to draft Simmons and Embiid. They were once hailed as a promising duo with the potential to dominate the NBA for years. Unfortunately, both have fallen victim to their egos and drama.
Despite their rocky history, they still have time to fulfill their potential. However, it is unlikely they will play together again. Theirs remains a “what if” story that will follow them long after they retire from basketball.
Reached Out To Mend Fences
On the Nets, Simmons is coming off a season-high 14-point outing in Wednesday’s win over the Phoenix Suns. There have been no negative reports about his attitude. He is proving to be a team player and is focused on winning. He is also setting a good example for the younger players. Perhaps he reached out to mend fences to move on.
