The Philadelphia 76ers have turned the screws on Ben Simmons and reportedly fined the Australian his $US360,000 game cheque for missing Friday’s win over the Detroit Pistons.
According to ESPN, the 76ers are fed up with Simmons rejecting the help of their physicians and plan to continue fining him until he accepts the support they’ve offered and fulfils “other basketball-related obligations”.
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Simmons has been showing up regularly at the team’s facility for some daily basketball activity with coaches and individual teammates, but he hasn’t participated in strength training, film study and game-day shootarounds, sources told ESPN.
He has told the Sixers repeatedly that he won’t share information on his mental health treatment.
The money the Sixers take out of Simmons’ salary for the fines is put in an escrow account. The team has told the Aussie if he returns to team activities he will be able to recoup the money.
The 2016 No.1 draft pick has four years and $US147 million left on his contract and requested a trade earlier in the year.
The Sixers boast a 7-2 win-loss record so far this season – the best in the Eastern Conference, without Simmons.
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