After one of the most bizarre off seasons maybe ever, Ben Simmons has finally rejoined his teammates and participated in practice today with the 76ers. After what felt like thousands of different rumors, updates, and everything in between, it’s crazy to even think about Ben Simmons coming back with the 76ers, but here we are.

Over the last week, Simmons showed up unexpected at the Wells Fargo Center to take a COVID-19 test. From there, he cleared COVID protocols but did not play in the 76ers preseason finale on Friday against the pistons. Today was the first day that Simmons would be able to rejoin the 76ers and practice with the team, which he did, but how much he practiced and was involved with team activities is still up in the air.

There was no media availability for Ben Simmons today. According to the 76ers, Ben Simmons will hold his first media availability on Monday or Tuesday. After what felt like the longest off-season ever, we will officially hear from Ben for the first time since the Game 7 loss vs the Atlanta Hawks.

Several members of the 76ers did speak after practice. Here’s what they had to say about Ben Simmons.

Doc Rivers said he’s not sure about when Simmons will return but that his overall conditioning level is good. “When he’s ready, he’ll play.”

We have a clip of what Tobias Harris said about Ben following practice courtesy of Tom Moore:

Harris would continue to say that “We’re grown men here. This is not seventh or eighth grade” which kind of rubbed me the wrong why given the fact that the 76ers organization, with Klutch Sports, have acted like a bunch of eighth graders for the past four months, but I digress.

Probably the biggest Ben Simmons supporter on the 76ers would be Furkan Korkmaz. He had this to say after practice, courtesy of 76ers insider Kevin McCormick from Clutch Points.

“It was good to have him back. Personally, I missed him. To be on the same floor with him again, personally, I’m happy to see him back here on the court,”

It’s honestly crazy that we are back to the point where Ben Simmons is practicing with the 76ers and that all indications point to him actually playing with the team moving forward. Looks like we will have a quiet day tomorrow before Tuesday, when Ben Simmons takes the podium to speak to the media, and 76ers fans for the first time since last summer.

Mandatory Credit: Philadelphia Inquirer