Ben Simmons isn’t holding back, folks. The NBA player and former Philadelphia 76ers star just dropped some serious bombs, saying his wild holdout and eventual exit from the Sixers back in the 2021-22 season was all because Daryl Morey, the team’s former president of basketball operations, was actively trying to force him out the door. Simmons, never one to mince words when he wants to speak up, directly linked Morey’s actions to his decision to stop playing for the team.
Simmons Blasts Morey: “F–k It, I Ain’t Coming In”
Simmons went on ESPN’s “Being Ben” documentary and laid it all out. He believes Morey was “vocally saying you’re trying to get me out of there or set things up or whatever.” And for Simmons, that was it. He said, “I’m one of those people, like I’m going to show you, you don’t want me here? F–k it, I ain’t coming in.” He made it clear it wasn’t about not wanting to be in Philly, but about Morey’s alleged attempts to push him out, even bringing up “promises to James [Harden]” that apparently didn’t pan out either. Simmons didn’t stop there, either, declaring that in the business of basketball, “There’s some good guys in there and some bad guys and some people you can’t trust. There’s some snakes. And I think he’s one of them.” Morey was hired by the Sixers a year before Simmons’ holdout started, which adds another layer to this wild story.
Doc Rivers on That Infamous Practice: “Way Overblown”
Remember that infamous practice where Simmons got kicked out? It was a huge deal at the time, with all kinds of conflicting reports flying around about whether he had his phone on him. Well, former head coach Doc Rivers weighed in on “Being Ben,” saying the whole thing was “way overblown than what it was.” Rivers admitted, “Ben didn’t want to be at the practice, nor did I think he should be at the practice.” He even said he “didn’t even notice the phone” and that it wasn’t some huge “yelling match or anything like that.” According to Rivers, Simmons “just noticed he didn’t want to be on the floor, didn’t want to do anything. But it wasn’t some yelling match or anything like that. … And it wasn’t like he was going to fight it. He wanted to go.” Sounds like everyone was ready for a breakup.
At 30 years old, Simmons has really struggled with injuries, playing just 108 games over the past five years since he left the Sixers. He sat out all of last season, which is just brutal for any player. But there’s a new chapter starting! He signed with the Sacramento Kings this past offseason and is expected to be a starter for the team in the 2026-27 campaign. It’s a fresh start, a new city, and a chance to silence a lot of critics. Can Simmons put the past behind him and prove he’s still a force in this league? The Kings need him healthy, and the basketball world is watching to see if he can deliver.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
Leave a Reply