Ben Simmons’ team is ‘livid’ over his new ‘fake’ excuse

Ben Simmons has reportedly walked off from his team after making a “fake” health claim that has left the 76ers fuming.

Ben Simmons showed up to the Sixers’ training facilities on Friday morning (AEDT) — and walked off again.

The Australian’s trade war with his own team is getting uglier by the day and it took another turn on Friday with the 25-year-old reportedly claiming he has a back injury — and isn’t able to play as a result of mental health issues.

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ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski first reported Simmons left the team’s training base in Philadelphia without carrying out his scheduled one-on-one training session with assistant coach Sam Cassell.

The report details Simmons was briefly treated by team medical staff before the scheduled session after claiming he had back tightness.

Despite reportedly being cleared by the medical staff to participate in the training session, Simmons left the facility without stepping foot onto the court.

According to The Philly Voice, Simmons had never previously been treated for the back issue and had never previously told the team he had a back problem.

The Athletic reported Friday Simmons is not ready to play and is expected to miss an “undetermined” amount of games this season.

The situation has developed further with a report Simmons has cited mental health as the reason he is not in a place to play for the team.

The same report by local Philadelphia sports radio presenter Howard Eskin claims the team does not believe Simmons.

The report claims the team is “livid” that Simmons is citing mental health as an excuse.

“According to sources, belief by #Sixers is Ben Simmons is faking injury and mental illness,” Eskin posted on Twitter.

“He came in 2day and said he had back stiffness and mentally not ready to play. Mental illness is serious issue and team is livid Simmons went down that road. Team plans to fine him every game.”

It is yet another deterioration in the relationship between the All Star and his team.

It is still yet to be confirmed if Simmons will play in the team’s first home game of the season on Saturday (AEDT). It seems almost impossible to see Simmons playing in the Sixers’ clash with Brooklyn when he has yet to complete a full training session with the team since the end of the 2021 Playoffs.

It is unclear if the Sixers will take further disciplinary action over the latest development

It comes just days after Simmons was suspended by the team for one game and was kicked out of a training session for failing to take part in a defensive drill.

Ben Simmons in Philly. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images/AFP.

He had also been spotted training with a phone in his pocket and did not participate in a team huddle during a training session this week where television cameras were allowed to film.

He was ruthlessly mocked in the Sixers’ season-opener on Thursday, but it is still going to get worse before it gets better, based on the most recent excuse the Melbourne product has just put forward.

A report on Wednesday showed just how bitter the rift is between Simmons and the organisation with Simmons reportedly snubbing stadium staff and off-court employees.

Simmons didn’t appear to be missed when the 76ers ran away with a 117-97 win over New Orleans to open the season

Simmons’ relationship with the 76ers has gone beyond breaking point and Pelicans supporters were only too happy to make sure Philly stars knew about it.

“Where’s Ben Simmons?” they chanted throughout the game.

When Joel Embiid stepped up to the free-throw line, New Orleans fans changed things up and went with “we want Simmons”, mocking his notoriously poor conversion rate from the charity stripe.

Pels fans really broke out the 'where's Ben Simmons' chant. 😳😳 pic.twitter.com/NBoVWfOBXi

— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) October 21, 2021

And the hatred was so palpable from Philly sports fans that in the NHL match between the Flyers and Boston Bruins, fans were chanting “f*** Ben Simmons”.

Simmons has been trying to force through a trade for months since officially requesting a trade in August. The team has been unable to source an attractive offer from rival teams and are refusing to let him go until a desirable offer is put on the table.

The game of cat and mouse is far from over.