Man, with all of the issues surrounding the Philadelphia 76ers this season, it sure would be nice if our all-star point guard would stop being a baby and rejoin the team, even more so now with the spike in COVID cases around the NBA and the Sixers being forced to call up G League players to fill out a roster.

Of course, that’s not going to happen. Ben Simmons is still on the Sixers roster and not participating in any team activities. On top of that, he refuses to cooperate with team doctors and will not share any specifics on whatever “treatment” he is receiving for his mental health issues. 

The Sixers continue to fine Ben Simmons and since he missed last game against the Brooklyn Nets, the total fine count has now surpassed $8.5 million since the beginning of October. 

Here’s a full list of the fines, courtesy of my favorite website, Spotrac. 

Ben Simmons Total Fines: $8,514,618.00

Ben Simmons signed a 5-year $177,243,360 contract with the 76ers at the start of the 2020-21 season. All of that money was guaranteed which was good for an AAV of $35,448,672. This year, Ben Simmons was scheduled to earn a base salary of $33,003,936.

We are approaching the $10 million mark for Ben Simmons fines and I honestly couldn’t be happier. That’s not to say that the 76ers do not miss Ben Simmons because it’s blatantly obvious how important he is to the team.

The Sixers are 15-15 on the season and everything they do on offense looks flat and slow. Tobias Harris is an absolute train wreck and just last game, managed only 11 points, seven rebounds, and five assists on a miserable 3-for-17 shooting performance and 0-for-5 from beyond the arc.

The Sixers are in Boston tonight to face the Celtics after their game yesterday in New Orleans against the Pelicans was postponed due to COVID-19. Including tonight, the 76ers have three games left in the 2021 calendar year. Ben Simmons is getting fined $360,305.00 for every game missed, which would bring Simmons’ 2021 Fine Total to an astounding $9,595,533.

I’m proud of Daryl Morey and the 76ers organization for not allowing Ben Simmons to dictate his future. If the 76ers let Simmons walk for lesser value in return simply because he no longer wanted to play in Philadelphia any longer, that would have set a terrible precedent for other teams and players around the league.

Not today, Benjamin. Not today.