Ben Simmons To Play 1st Game in 470 Days—Against The Sixers
Ben Simmons plays basketball today
— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) October 3, 2022
…vs the Philadelphia 76ers pic.twitter.com/N95RmsA0RW
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?
— Josh Eberley 🇨🇦 (@JoshEberley) October 3, 2022
The first ever must watch preseason game?
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
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