Sydney to open arms to Ben Simmons after Melbourne mayhem

Sydney will welcome Newcastle-raised Ben Simmons with open arms after the Philadelphia 76ers star’s Melbourne jaunt ended in a cloud of controversy.

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Ben Simmons’ ‘real’ state will welcome him with open arms this weekend after the basketball megastar’s return to Melbourne was clouded in controversy.

Simmons’ may have been born in Melbourne but he was raised in Newcastle where he first took to the basketball court. Australia’s richest athlete will host his first basketball camp in Sydney with the one-day event at Hills Basketball Stadium on Sunday.

It follows a dramatic time in Melbourne for Simmons who made headlines after claiming his treatment by security at Crown Casino was impacted by his skin colour.

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Ben Simmons watches his beloved Bombers. Picture: Michael Willson/AFL

So tight lipped about Simmons’ arrival on Sunday even local organisers have been gagged from talking to the media.

But Australian basketball great Andrew Gaze said Simmons’ appearance will do wonders for the game domestically.

“It’s great not just with Ben but when the elite players get back and spend time with emerging talent,” Gaze said. “ Either to introduce guys to the game or provide a bit of inspiration to the kids that are already in the system because it becomes a lot more tangible about what can be achieved.

Ben Simmons (middle) playing rugby league for South Newcastle under-9s in 2005.

“You’re not going to learn a lot in an hour but being around Ben Simmons what it can do is get an overview of some of the fundamentals, learn about some of the skills of the game and the commitment it can take to get there.

“It’s a great opportunity for whoever goes along.”

Simmons’ new $242 million contract extension is the richest deal of any Australian athlete. That alone puts him in another stratosphere according to Gaze.

“Anytime you get an organisation investing that much money they are doing it with the anticipation they are going to be an elite player for a long period of time,” Gaze said.

“He is already considered one of the elite players. He is on this trajectory that he can get to that uber-elite level.

“The 76ers believe he has that potential. That’s why he has made such a less involvement.”