Ben Simmons is officially back with the Philadelphia 76ers

Ben Simmons has officially returned for duty in Philadelphia, as his coach and teammates were asked about the awkward energy in the air.

Ben Simmons is officially back — but for how long?

After returning to Philadelphia last week but missing the 76ers’ latest pre-season game against Detroit on Saturday, the Aussie basketballer suited up for his first practice with the team since his trade saga exploded.

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In the aftermath of a loss to Atlanta in last season’s playoffs, Simmons has been pushing for a trade away from the Sixers with four years and $AUD200 million still remaining on his contract. But Philadelphia hasn’t been able to come to terms with another team, unwilling to part with Simmons unless offered an attractive trade package that features a bona-fide star in return for the 25-year-old.

There were reports Simmons was prepared to sit out the season if a trade couldn’t be arranged, but the heavy financial penalties of continuing to hold out were starting to bite and he came back to Philly — where he will at least start the season, if not finish it as a trade remains his priority.

Philadelphia Coach Doc Rivers spoke about Simmons’ presence at his first practice of the season and denied there was any awkward energy in the room.

“It was good,” Rivers said. “Overall, he was in and out. It was not a great practice — not because of Ben, more because of taking a day off and having three days before the first game,” Rivers said.

“But overall, it was good today.

“We just introduced (Simmons) like we always do when a new guy comes back or the old guys comes back. We jokingly did it. We did it with Tobias (Harris) as well, because he’s been on vacation and Matisse (Thybulle) as well.

“But as I told you before, the players pretty much welcome guys back.”

Asked if Simmons will play in the Sixers’ season-opener against New Orleans on Thursday (AEDT), Rivers said: “I don’t know yet. I’m going to wait and see. Conditioning I would say, just watching him, I thought he was in decent shape. Still not obviously game shape.”

Ben Simmons is officially back. (Photo by Christian Petersen /Getty Images North America/ AFP)

As for whether Simmons would be reintroduced to the Philadelphia locals — who have every reason to throw shade at the three-time All-Star over his off-season drama — at a home game, or if he’ll make his return on the road, Rivers said he’s “not even thinking about that”.

“I’m just trying to get him back comfortable and integrated,” Rivers said. “There’s no game plan there. I can tell you that.

“When he’s ready, he’ll play.”

Meanwhile, Sixers star Tobias Harris said the atmosphere was “perfectly fine” and the team wasn’t obsessed with Simmons’ situation.

“To be honest, the response for us is look, we’ve got the opening to our season coming up,” Harris said. “Truth be told, that’s honestly where our focus is.

“We’re grown men here. This is not middle school — seventh grade, eighth grade. ‘Oh, you did this to me, you did this’. No. As soon as we step on that floor, it’s just basketball. Honestly, that’s the way it should be.

“We’re here for one thing, and that’s to be the best team we can be, and compete and get better as a group. All the other energy of this and that … the vibe was what it was.

“Was it perfect? No. But we’re here to do a job, and that’s to win basketball games. We put our big-boy pants on, and we get on the floor and do what we do. That’s pretty much it.”

Furkan Korkmaz added: “It was good to have him (Simmons) back. Personally, I missed him. To be on the same floor with him again, personally I’m happy to see him back here on the court and I hope we have more work to do.”