Ben Simmons re-surfaces with 76ers in rare sighting

A video of Ben Simmons behind the scenes has captured the unannounced moment the Australian returned to the 76ers.

Ben Simmons inside the Wells Fargo Arena just hours before the team's game with Minnesota.

Ben Simmons has been seen training with the 76ers for the first time in weeks.

The Australian was spotted during an on-court workout with team coaches on the Wells Fargo Centre court just hours before the team’s heart-stopping loss to Minnesota on Sunday.

Simmons was put through his paces unannounced by the team.

The development comes two weeks after Simmons’ agent accused the team of contributing to the 25-year-old’s mental health problems.

Simmons skipped the entire pre-season and made it clear he wanted to be traded away from the 76ers, despite having four years and $200 million remaining on his contract, but a suitable trade has yet not been found.

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He eventually ended his off-season exile and returned to Philadelphia but was then kicked out of practice, suspended and fined. That was until the Australian said he was suffering from mental health issues, at which point the Sixers offered him support and reinstated his salary.

But that changed again when Simmons was reportedly fined $487,000 for missing a game against the Detroit Pistons earlier this month. The team is reported to have fined him on other occasions since then.

Ben Simmons has not played this season. Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images.

His return to work out with team staff on Sunday is his first known sighting with the team this month.

However, details have now emerged that suggest the work out should not give 76ers fans any hope of seeing Simmons back in action for the team.

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Keith Pompey reports Simmons’ concluded his workout and then left the arena before his teammates showed up for their walk-through ahead of their game with the Timberwolves.

Here’s a video of Ben Simmons working out earlier today at the Wells Fargo Center. pic.twitter.com/l97Pd7e3k6

— Keith Pompey (@PompeyOnSixers) November 28, 2021

At the heart of the unpleasant Simmons-Sixers stand-off is suggestions from some within the team that Simmons is either faking his mental health condition — or the team is acting with absolute disrespect towards a player who needs help.

According to The Athletic, Simmons believes the 76ers’ recent actions are an attempt to force him to play, which has exacerbated his mental health issues.

“I truly believe the fines, the targeting, the negative publicity shined on the issue — that’s very unnecessary and has furthered the mental health issues for Ben,” Simmons’ agent, Klutch Sports chief executive Rich Paul, told The Athletic.

“Either you help Ben, or come out and say he’s lying. Which one is it?”

A 76ers team official denied the accusations, claiming they have been fully supportive of Simmons’ recovery process.