76ers Fans Booed Ben Simmons As Nets Lose On His Playing Return To Philly

Tuesday night’s 115-106 victory over the Brooklyn Nets by a tenacious Philadelphia 76ers team—playing without Joel Embiid and James Harden—spoiled Ben Simmons’ return to Philadelphia.

Tuesday night inside the Wells Fargo Center, Ben Simmons was fully aware of the reaction the Sixers faithful would give him. He anticipated fans would express their ire in a number of loud ways after going through a messy split with the organization that selected him as the top overall choice in 2016, which forced him to leave Philadelphia before the start of the season.

76ers Fans Booed Ben Simmons As Nets Lose On His Playing Return To Philly

To the constant jeers of the crowd, Simmons had 11 points, 11 assists, and seven rebounds. He has been improving since a terrible start to his Nets career. Kyrie Irving scored 23 points and Kevin Durant had 20 before coach Jacque Vaughn pulled his starting lineup with three minutes left in the game.

Simmons averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists over four seasons with Philadelphia, who drafted him No 1 overall out of LSU, where he played only one season. His problems, such as his refusal to shoot beyond 15 feet, outweighed his otherwise gifted defensive and playmaking talents. Simmons’ relationship with the Sixers deteriorated following the 2021 playoffs and he demanded a trade.

The expected marquee matchup was dimmed with Embiid Harden absent through injury. Embiid v Simmons will therefore have to wait. However, Simmons vs. 76ers fans was quite entertaining.

Although there were a few fleeting “Fuck Ben Simmons!” chants, Sixers supporters were generally raucous rather than hostile. However, they mainly reserved the four-letter terms for the backs of their previous No. 25 jerseys.

When Simmons missed back-to-back free throws in the second half and precipitated a free fast-food chicken promotion, 76ers supporters went crazy for him.

Before the game, Simmons had stated that he anticipated a hostile atmosphere in Philadelphia. Ben Simmons added, “I can’t worry about everyone’s feelings. “At the end of the day, I’m not here to make everybody happy.”

 

 

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