The Philadelphia 76ers have fined Ben Simmons his game salary of $360,000 for missing Thursday’s win against the Detroit Pistons, ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reports.
The move came one day after Simmons said he is still not mentally ready to play after president of basketball operations Daryl Morey approached him about a return to action, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania.
Wojnawrowski says Simmons’ missed salary will be placed into an escrow account.
The ESPN reporter adds the Sixers stopped fining Simmons two weeks ago when he told the team he wasn’t mentally prepared to play.
ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne reported Tuesday that “there has been frustration mounting” about Simmons not accepting the help the team has offered him.
“He has been working with mental health professionals through the players association, but thus far, I’m told he hasn’t really kept the team in the loop on that,” said Shelburne.
Simmons has yet to play for the 76ers who are 7-2 so far this season.
The 25-year-old missed all of training camp and the early part of the pre-season in the wake of his off-season trade demand, but eventually rejoined the team – only to be kicked out of practice on Oct. 19 and suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team.
Charania reported on Oct. 22, ahead of Philadelphia’s home opener, that Simmons expressed a desire to play to head coach Doc Rivers and the entire 76ers team, but said he needed time.
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