Ben Simmons will be playing against the 76ers for the first time since the franchise that drafted No. 1 overall traded him at the deadline to the Brooklyn Nets.
Following a Tuesday morning shootaround, Simmons said it “feels good to be back” at Wells Fargo Center and that he’s “locked-in” and “ready to play” against the 76ers.
Ben Simmons following this morning’s #BrooklynNets shootaround at the Wells Fargo Center: “It feels good to be back. It does feel good to be back. I’m ready to go, locked-in. So I’m ready to play.”
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 22, 2022
The Nets (8-9) head to Philly carrying a consecutive win streak after beating the Trail Blazers and Grizzlies. Simmons goes into the game carrying significant baggage from his last year, where he sat out the season due to mental health on top of public concerns about his lack of aggression. After he was traded to the Nets, Simmons sat out the rest of the regular-season and playoffs due to a back injury that ultimately required surgery in May.
When asked about the prospect of his return being anti-climatic due to Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and James Harden not playing, Simmons said that “the fans will make up for it” and that he knows his first game in Wells Fargo Center out of a Philly uniform will be filled with a lot of boos
“Yeah, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”
Ben Simmons on if his return to Philly is anti-climatic with Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and James Harden not playing for the #Sixers: “I mean the fans will make up for it. Yeah, so I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be fun.”
— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 22, 2022
Simmons knows he’ll hear a lot of boos.
Philly-Brooklyn takes place at 7:30, with TNT showcasing the game.
