Ben Simmons rejects Philadelphia offer for mental health support

Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia team is reportedly getting increasingly sick of his refusal to talk to them after knocking back an offer.

Ben Simmons. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

Ben Simmons is reportedly refusing to talk to the Philadelphia 76ers about his ongoing mental health work.

The Australian is also reported to have repeatedly knocked back offers from the team to provide him with mental health resources as he continues to spend time off the court as a result of not being mentally ready to play after a tumultuous off-season.

Simmons is yet to play this season after an official request for the Sixers to trade him to another NBA franchise in August. He has been fined more than $2 million for skipping pre-season games and training sessions.

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Philadelphia stopped fining Simmons last month after the 25-year-old told them about his mental health situation. It was reported Simmons had been working with mental health professionals for months prior to his return to the team in a limited capacity.

Ben Simmons at 76ers training.

He has been training away from teammates in one-on-one sessions with assistant coaching staff.

It has now been revealed the 76ers are growing increasingly frustrated about the circumstances surrounding the three-time All Star’s mental health as a result of his reported refusal to accept the team’s help to get him mentally ready to play.

Simmons has been working with mental health professionals facilitated through the NBA Players’ Association.

ESPN reporter Ramona Shelburne told NBA Today on Wednesday morning (AEDT) there remains no timeline on Simmons’ potential return to the court.

“There is frustration mounting according to people close to the situation that Ben has not been accepting any other help the team has offered him in terms of helping him with his mental readiness,” she said.

“He has been working with mental health professionals through the Players’ Association. But thus far, he hasn’t really kept the team in the loop on that. There is frustration mounting there.

“He’s not providing the team with any updates as far as what he’s doing to get back and get himself mentally ready to rejoin the team.”

Ben Simmons last season. Photo by Barry Gossage / NBAE / Getty Images / Getty Images via AFP.

Shelburne posted on Twitter Simmons expects to be able to provide the Sixers with an update when he feels comfortable.

It comes after the situation deteriorated further this week when Philadelphia fans turned on Simmons, the home crowd chanting for their team to recruit six-time All Star Damian Lillard — the star widely reported to be Philadelphia’s dream replacement for Simmons.

It came after the disastrous end to the team’s Eastern Conference playoffs campaign where Simmons suffered a meltdown in the series loss to Atlanta and then appeared to be blamed for the Game 7 defeat by coach Doc Rivers and star teammate Joel Embiid.

Ever since the elimination, trade destination rumours about Simmons have swirled with the Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets, San Antonio Spurs, Detroit Pistons, Toronto Raptors, Minnesota Timberwolves, Indiana Pacers, Portland Trailblazers and Golden State all reported to have some interest in exploring a trade.

According to reports, none of the informal negotiations have got anywhere near the high asking price Philadelphia basketball operations boss Daryl Morey has put on Simmons.

There was speculation last week Simmons’ dream trade is to the Golden State Warriors.

He still has four years remaining in his $US168 million ($A225 million) contract.