Two years ago, Ben Simmons demanded a trade from the Philadelphia 76ers, and his final days in the City of Brotherly Love were ugly, as he cut off almost all communication between himself and the Sixers organization.
He was eventually sent to the Brooklyn Nets midway through the 2021-22 season, and he is now part of a young, rebuilding core there.
But surprisingly, Simmons told Marc Spears of The Athletic that if he were to be traded again, he would want to return to Philly.
In an interview with Marc Spears, Ben Simmons said he would be open to playing again for the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Nets guard said Philadelphia is his preferred destination if ever traded, calling the city “a second home to me.”https://t.co/TO2P7F3XVd pic.twitter.com/3aqgRnw0Bn
— The Athletic (@TheAthletic) August 29, 2023
“I’ll always have love for Philly,” Simmons said. “People always ask me like, ‘If you were to get traded again where you want it to be?’ I always say, ‘Just Philly.'”
Simmons’ trade demand came after the 76ers lost in the second round of the 2021 NBA Playoffs by falling in Game 5 and Game 7 at home to the underdog Atlanta Hawks.
In Game 7, Simmons took just four shots and was strangely passive, and afterward, then-head coach Doc Rivers said he didn’t know if the 6-foot-10 player could be the starting point guard on a championship team.
Somehow, Simmons took that seemingly neutral statement as a big insult.
It seemed that once he arrived in Brooklyn, he would be back to normal, but instead, he didn’t play at all that season, citing a back injury and claiming he had a mental health issue.
This past season, he appeared in just 42 games, and he set career lows in points, rebounds, assists, and steals per game.
Simmons is clearly a unique talent, as he is fairly explosive in the open court, has good court vision and passing skills and is an excellent defender.
However, he needs to get his head right if he is to ever tap into any of his immense potential.
NEXT: Ben Simmons Reveals His Role For The Nets Next Season