Complete The Process: Ben Simmons attempted to ‘mend the fences’ with Joel Embiid over the Summer- A Reunion in Philly Incoming?
Man, nothing hits better than opening up social media the day before a federal holiday as you watch the clock tick at work and see a report that Ben Simmons attempted to ‘mend the fences’ with Joel Embiid and others within the 76ers organization ahead of the 2024-25 season.
Let me soften you up real quick. Take a minute and watch.
Before you exit out of the article because you’re still too emotional on how things ended with Ben Simmons in Philadelphia, why don’t you suck it up for three minutes and continue reading? I’m beyond sick of 76ers pretending like the Simmons-Embiid era wasn’t the undisputed BEST basketball we have witnessed in this city in nearly two decades. Grow the fuck up and at the very least, be open to a reunion in Philadelphia, okay?
For those of you strong enough to stick around, let’s get into it.
According to ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne, Simmons reached out to Embiid and others during the summer in hopes of repairing their fractured relationship. She did mention that while a reunion seems “unlikely,” it’s hard to fully rule out anything with the Sixers these days and it’s not hard to see why.
Ben Simmons attempted to ‘mend the fences’ with Joel Embiid over the Summer:
Listen, if you read The Liberty Line, you know I love Ben Simmons. I’m man enough to admit it instead of going on social media and firing off the typical talking points you see from “casuals” who don’t know a damn thing about basketball, being in a locker room, playing sports, and whatever else you want to relate to the dark days before his departure.
Eight years ago, the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons with the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft out of LSU. He took home Rookie Of The Year honors in 2018, made his first All-Star team in 2019, and brought home the All-Defensive First Team & All-NBA honors in 2020.
Ben Simmons embodied the epitome of a modern basketball player, blending size, speed, skill, and intelligence in a way that seems almost otherworldly – something that the NBA had never seen before on the court.
Until this very day, only Victor Wembanyama has managed to mesmerize basketball fans to a level that exceeded the allure of Ben Simmons.
Simmons’ unique ability to explode towards the rim with the power and grace of an Australian Kangaroo while finishing at the rim with thunderous dunks that would electrify the crowd was simply unmatched.
His speed and agility enabled him to guard multiple positions effectively, disrupting opponents’ offensive schemes with his quick hands and defensive prowess.
Despite his size, Simmons handles the ball with exceptional finesse, driving past defenders with ease and executing crossover dribbles that leave them grasping at air. His extraordinary court vision allows him to see plays develop before they happen, making precision passes that thread through the tightest of defenses.
“The Fresh Prince” of basketball, holds a rare combination of natural, God-given abilities that set him apart on the court. Standing at 6’10” with a wingspan that stretches over seven feet!
Entering this season, Ben Simmons, now 28 years old, had only played 57 games over the past three seasons and because of that, his contract and overall trade value is basically next-to-nothing.
Simmons played in just 42 games in 2022-23 before he was shut down last March because of a nerve impingement in his lower back. That injury returned just six games into this season and limited Simmons to only 15 games, including a stretch of 38 consecutive missed games.
The Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons were unfortunately, misunderstood for years. No one within the organization along with Simmons himself were willing to fail, think long-term, and be misunderstood for long periods of time.
Sound familiar? It should. This is exactly what Sam Hinkie predicted in his manifesto that was written a year before Simmons arrived in Philadelphia. I also tossed it in the graphic above. Keep up.
With the Philadelphia 76ers, Ben Simmons averaged 16/8/7 over 275 games.
2017-18: 33.7 MPG | 15.8 PPG | 8.1 RPG | 8.2 APG | 1.7 SPG | 6.7 FGM | 12.3 FGA | 54.5 FG%
2018-19: 34.2 MPG | 16.9 PPG | 8.8 RPH | 7.7 APG | 1.4 SPG | 6.8 FGM | 12.2 FGA | 56.3 FG%
2019-20: 35.4 MPG | 16.4 PPG | 7.8 RPG | 8.0 APG | 2.1 SPG | 6.6 FGM | 11.4 FGA | 58 FG%
2020-21: 32.4 MPG | 14.3 | 7.2 RPG | 6.9 APG | 1.6 SPG | 5.6 FGM | 10.1 FGA | 55.7 FG%
No, I’m not saying that Ben Simmons needs to “develop” his game and turn into a “shooter”. I’m also not saying that Ben Simmons should really be any type of offensive option for this 76ers team at all.
The 76ers can rely on Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, Paul George, Jared McCain, and hell, even Kelly Oubre Jr to get buckets. Simmons wouldn’t even be the fifth option on offense – unless he’s bringing in a rebound and dashing down the basketball court with Tyrese Maxey and Jared McCain by his side.
Lets not forget that Ben Simmons, has been ready to return to Philadelphia.
“I’ll always have love for Philly. People always ask me like, ‘If you were to get traded again, where would you want it to be?’ I always say, ‘Just Philly. Philly is a second home to me.’ And in time, you learn and grow as people. I don’t really have anything bad to say about Philly. It was a crazy situation at the end, but it is what it is.”
Complete The Process
And yes, I know damn well the history between Embiid and Simmons is messy. Their four seasons as teammates were defined by unfulfilled potential, awkward fit, and plenty of tension but maybe, JUST MAYBE, that was because the expectations for such a young core to turn into a championship contender so fast was just too much to expect from them and the root cause of all the problems.
For the uneducated, of which there are many, I’ll breakdown the “messy” relationship for you:
When the Sixers traded Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022, Embiid made it clear where he stood, criticizing Simmons for prioritizing individual stardom over winning.
Simmons, on the other hand, told ESPN’s Nick Friedell that their relationship never went beyond the court. “There wasn’t really a relationship there,” he admitted, essentially brushing off the idea that they were ever close.
Fast forward to now, and the Sixers could ironically use someone with Simmons’ skill set. At 3-13, Philly has the second-worst record in the league, ahead of only the Wizards. Their supposed “big three” of Embiid, Tyrese Maxey, and Paul George has barely shared the court, logging just six minutes together so far this season.
The offense is stagnant, and while Simmons isn’t the All-Star he once was, his ability to facilitate and defend could offer some much-needed energy.
Simmons, to his credit, has been healthy this season—an achievement in itself after being limited to just 13 games last year due to a back injury. Through 13 games with the Nets, he’s averaging a modest 5.3 points, 6.5 assists, and 5.7 rebounds per game.
While those numbers are a far cry from his peak, they suggest he’s at least useful again. With a $40.3 million expiring contract, it’s likely Brooklyn will explore trade options for him as the season progresses.
As for the Sixers, they’re in no-man’s-land right now. Embiid’s MVP window feels like it’s shrinking by the minute, and with the team floundering, a move to stabilize things could make sense. Whether that includes Simmons or not is a whole other question, but stranger things have happened.
After all, this is Philadelphia—a city that thrives on chaos, and a franchise that seems to welcome it with open arms.
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