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Tim BontempsESPN
PHILADELPHIA — The 76ers announced Tuesday afternoon that Ben Simmons has been suspended one game for conduct detrimental to the team, which will cause him to miss the team’s season-opening game in New Orleans against the Pelicans.
The statement was released late in the team’s practice Tuesday — after, sources told ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that Simmons had been thrown out of practice by 76ers coach Doc Rivers. Simmons was tossed essentially for a refusal to participate in the next stage of the session, sources told Wojnarowski.
Simmons’ reluctance to physically and mentally engage with the Sixers since his return has been a consistent theme, sources told Wojnarowski.
Tuesday was the third straight day Simmons had practiced with the team after clearing the NBA’s re-entry health and safety protocols Friday. He returned to the team last Monday after missing the first two weeks of practice as he held out in the hopes of getting his trade request from the offseason fulfilled.
He worked with the second team in practice both Sunday and Monday, and immediately left the court the moment both practices ended.
Rivers had previously declined to say when Simmons would return to the court with the team for a game.