Ben SimmonsThe team, which has passed health and safety protocols and is eligible to join the Philadelphia 76ers, announced that it will not play in the pre-season final Friday night.
Simmons’ absence was listed by the team as a “renewal” and he did not travel with the team to Detroit for a game against the Pistons. The Sixers open the regular season against the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
Simmons is one of several Sixers players who were disqualified from Friday’s pre-season final, along with Joel EmbiidAnd Tobias HarrisAnd Danny GreenAnd Matisse Thibault And shake milton.
Simmons has been absent from training camp and pre-season so far in the wake of his commercial demand that has upset some of his teammates, infuriated fans and left many puzzled as to why he wanted to get out of the top-seeded league. Last season in the Eastern Conference.
Simmons, 25, a three-time All-Star, met with Sixers coach Doc Rivers on Tuesday.
Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his maximum contract, although the 76ers put $8.25 million in deposit due to the absence of a point guard, and game penalties and lost practices can be deducted from that amount.
Sixers president Daryl Morey and Rivers have been publicly optimistic since the start of training camp that Simmons will play for the Sixers again.
Simmons averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 7.7 assists over four seasons with the Sixers.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.