'Get a grip': 76ers fans harass Ben Simmons in Philadelphia return

Ben Simmons has been granted a predictably unfriendly reception upon returning to Philadelphia as his Brooklyn Nets take on the 76ers.

The former first overall draft pick's stock has plummeted in the city that drafted him ever since last season's playoffs, in which the weaknesses in his game were exposed in brutal fashion against the Atlanta Hawks.

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The 25-year-old requested a trade from the 76ers after he was criticised directly in the wake of the series by head coach Doc Rivers and All-Star teammate Joel Embiid.

Both pointed to his inability to shoot from outside, combined with his struggles at the free throw line, as part of the reason why the 76ers were upset by the Hawks in the Eastern Conference semi-finals last season.

Simmons' request kicked off a protracted stand-off with the team, which resulted in him forfeiting payments on the five-year, $170 million (USD) contract extension he signed with the 76ers in 2019.

The stand-off only came to an end just before this season's trade deadline, with Simmons joining fellow Aussie Patty Mills on the Brooklyn Nets, with James Harden being sent to the 76ers.

Simmons still hasn't returned to the court since the trade, with the Nets working to get his conditioning up to scratch again, while the mental health issues that controversially prevented Simmons from playing for Philadelphia are also not fully resolved.

Nevertheless, though it was decided early on that he wouldn't play, Simmons travelled with the Nets to take on the 76ers in Philadelphia, and got a hostile reception from fans.

Some had gone so far as to wait outside the hotel the Nets were staying at, purely to hurl insults at Simmons the moment he stepped outside to get on the team bus.

“Why the grievance? Why spit in the face of Sixers fans? Why the grievance? Why the grievance Ben?” one fan could be heard calling out.

“We did nothing but support you for five years, you know that.”

Ben Simmons cops unfriendly reception in Philly return

Things didn't get much better for Simmons once he arrived at the stadium, with yet more fans heckling him on the way in, and during warm-ups.

Simmons rebounded for Mills as fans started filing in, with boos frequently coming and going as players got some shots up before the game.

A brief respite from the jeers came when he rose up for a dunk, prompting a smattering of cheers - but it was soon back to business as usual.

Multiple rounds of 'f*ck Ben Simmons' chants came and went during the first quarter alone, while he continued to be jeered at times throughout the first half.

There is extra security in the arena, and tickets were reportedly going for more than $4,000, according to the TNT broadcast.

Philadelphia legends Julius Erving and Allen Iverson were in the building for the game.

Some NBA fans on Twitter pointed out how absurd it was for cashed up Philly fans to spend their hard-earned purely to spite Simmons.

Sixers coach Doc Rivers was uninterested in discussing Simmons prior to the game.

"Why would I talk about a guy in street clothes?" Rivers responded when quizzed about his thoughts on Simmons' return.

The pair have reportedly barely spoken since the 2021 playoffs, with Rivers kicking Simmons out of one of the few team practices he attended prior to the season beginning.

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