PHILADELPHIA — Former Sixers guard Ben Simmons, who hasn’t played an NBA game since Philly lost a second-round Game 7 to the Atlanta Hawks back in June of last year, is set to return to the Wells Fargo Center Thursday when the Brooklyn Nets come to town.
And although Simmons is still not in basketball condition after suffering a setback in his recovery from a back injury, Nets coach Steve Nash confirmed Tuesday that the 25-year-old three-time All-Star will be in the building and sitting on the Nets bench in clear view of Sixers fans. Yes, the same Sixers fans who at one time were divided over the former No. 1 overall pick but have since come to more of a consensus following a months-long holdout and trade demand that erased any goodwill Simmons had left in this city.
Bringing Simmons back to his old stomping grounds — even though he isn’t playing — was a conscious decision, according to Nash, especially with the possibility of these two teams meeting again in the postseason. And Nash knows what to expect from the Philly faithful.
