'Long way to go': Ben Simmons slams Crown Casino in ugly race row

Ben Simmons has suggested racial profiling was at play after having trouble gaining entry into Crown casino in Melbourne.

The Philadelphia 76ers star and Melbourne native posted an Instagram story documenting his experience that was captured on Twitter on Tuesday.

In it, Simmons is with a group of friends, one of them white.

He said that he and his black friends got “checked” by security, while his white friend did not.

“I find it so crazy that the only guy who doesn’t get checked to go into the casino is this guy,” Simmons said while pointing his phone at his unnamed white friend.

“I get checked, Mike gets checked and Taj gets checked. Thank you Crown Casino.”

Simmons also said that he and a black friend were eventually denied entry.

“Wow,” Simmons said. “We’ve got a long way to go.”

However Australian entertainment reporter Peter Ford told Simmons he might want to “check the dress code of Crown”.

“(It) applies to anyone famous or not and any skin colour,” he tweeted.

“He (Simmons) was wearing camouflage pants.”

Simmons responded by claiming his “friend who got let in also had camouflage pants on”.

But Ford aid Simmons “refused to show his ID”, a claim that was again rejected by Simmons.

Simmons steals the show at Boomers camp

While he's not playing in the FIBA World Cup, Simmons still stole the show at the Boomers' first training session in Melbourne on Saturday.

The NBA superstar last month pulled out of the World Cup and upcoming exhibition games against the USA but said he planned to still train with the Australian squad with an eye on next year's Olympics.

Simmons was welcomed by his teammates at their training session, later joining the likes of Andrew Bogut to watch AFL sides Essendon and Port Adelaide square off.

The Philadelphia 76ers guard said he pulled out of the World Cup warm-up games so the team could properly prepare their game-style for the tournament.

Fellow NBA ace Patty Mills said the players respected and supported Simmons' decision.

"We've all respected his decision but him being still committed to being part of the group and our preparations is huge," Mills said.

"We'll continue to grow relationships with him and vice-versa - we're one big family and we want to go and create history."

The San Antonio Spurs veteran was happy to have Simmons on deck, whatever his role, and opposing him at training could only be a good thing for the team.

"He's obviously committed to being a valued part of our preparations for the World Cup ... he's part of our group, he will be for a long time," Mills said.

"The best thing about it with Ben is, he's going to make us better at practice.

"The games are one thing but for him to go at us in practice is the best preparation for (the World Cup).

with AAP