Ben Simmons will sit on the bench for Brooklyn against Philadelphia on Friday

Philadelphia 76ers fans burned Ben Simmons’ jersey before he quit the team and they won’t let up when he returns on Friday.

Ben Simmons will sit on the bench in his return to Philadelphia. Picture: Adam Hunger/Getty Images

Ben Simmons should prepare for “childish” fans to be “throwing insults” when he returns to Philadelphia on Friday for the first time since his acrimonious exit from the 76ers.

The former NBA All-Star will sit on the bench for the Brooklyn Nets on Friday after his trade for James Harden set up what could become a stirring new rivalry.

Nets superstar Kevin Durant said the 76ers fans, who burned Simmons’ jersey before his ugly exit, wouldn’t let up on their one-time playmaker.

“It’s going to be loud,” Nets superstar Kevin Durant said.

“I’m sure Philly fans and people watching the game and media think this is somewhat of a budding rivalry.

“So I imagine it’s going to feel that way.”

Philadelphia coach Doc Rivers, who played his part in Simmons’ exit following a breakdown with the Australian, said he didn’t like how the rivalry started but couldn’t ignore it now it existed.

“I don‘t like how, let’s say, this rivalry was started,” Rivers said

“I’ll pass on all that, let me put it that way. But I love when there’s rivalries. I love when there’s teams that are in the same conference that want to play each other and go after each other. That’s all good.”

Doc Rivers loves the rivalry. Picture: Adam Hunger/Getty Images/AFP

It’s been a month since Harden and Simmons were swapped in a blockbuster NBA trade and the Australian is yet to take the court as he continues to work back to full fitness, having not played at all this season.

Harden, on the other hand, has been terrific so far with the 76ers, who are second in the eastern conference after winning eight of their past 10 games.

Simmons has decided to travel to his old home court and the atmosphere could be reminiscent of the angry crowds that welcomed Durant back to Oklahoma City after he left for Golden State in 2016.

But Durant said he at least got to answer the boos on the court

“It was a different situation because I got to play and shut the people up every time I hit a jump shot,” Durant said.

“But Ben doesn’t have their opportunity right now.

Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are hoping to spark the Nets. Picture: Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

“He’s got to just sit there and just take a bunch of people just being childish and throwing insults his way because he didn’t want to play basketball for them no more.”

Sixers forward Georges Niang couldn’t argue when asked if it means more than a normal game.

”I mean, obviously we’re not gonna hide and say what didn’t happen. There was a trade that happened, we got James, they got Ben,” he said.

“I‘m sure there’s a ton of anticipation for the fans, there’s a ton of anticipation for us, but I think when we get out on the court, it’s another game. Obviously, it’s an in-conference rival, but this obviously means a little more for guys on our side, for sure.”

Durant said Simmons would have to cop it on the chin but backed him to smile his way through it, knowing he would get to play again.

“I mean, the guy’s making $40m ($A55m) a year,” Durant said.

“You could take that for a couple hours, and I’m sure Ben has that approach.”