Ben Simmons To Play 1st Game in 470 Days—Against The Sixers

It's a script that could have been written in Hollywood. Except it takes place in Brooklyn, NY. Tonight. Ben Simmons, after holding out from the Philadelphia 76ers last season and forcing a trade to the Brooklyn Nets, will finally make his return to the court, after 470 days on the sidelines, against an NBA opponent Monday night. And deliciously, it's against the  Sixers.

Ben Simmons plays basketball today

…vs the Philadelphia 76ers pic.twitter.com/N95RmsA0RW

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) October 3, 2022

It was way back in June, 2021 when Simmons infamously passed up an open dunk late in the Sixers' Game 7 elimination against the Atlanta Hawks, igniting a year-long drama that's kept the 3-time All-Star out of NBA competition. 

Tonight, that comes to an end, against his former teammate Joel Embiid, with whom things didn't end too well in Philly. 

Ben Simmons going to play basketball tonight for the first time in 16 months, against Philadelphia?

The first ever must watch preseason game?

— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) October 3, 2022

Simmons cited mental health issues and then a bad back for his absence from the court for all of last season, even after his February trade to Brooklyn. But finally, the anticipated 'Big 3' of Simmons, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving will step on the floor together. 

The 26-year-old 2-time NBA All-Defensive First Teamer said he's looking forward to it. Kind of. “Pretty sure I’m good to go,” Simmons said this past week. “[It feels] amazing. I’m getting used to the up and down play, but I feel great. It’s good to be here with you guys.”

Watching Simmons vs. Embiid, preseason or not, should be worth the price of admission.

Photo: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports