Poor Ben Simmons, he of the $57 million in career on-court earnings and another $147 million coming his way. Doc Rivers hinted he couldn’t be a championship point guard. Joel Embiid poked him for passing up a big shot. For those high crimes Simmons staged an ill-advised holdout and pouted through three days of practice. Now, hours before the 76ers’ season opener, the NBA’s spiraling superstar has been told to stay away.
The Sixers suspended Simmons on Tuesday, banishing him before boarding a flight to New Orleans. Simmons—last seen going through the motions with a cell phone in his pocket on Monday—appeared disengaged on Tuesday, a source familiar with the situation told Sports Illustrated.