Ben Simmons calls meeting with teammates, says he’s not mentally ready to play

Ben Simmons talked to his fellow 76ers teammates before the shootaround Friday morning. The Athletic’s Shams Charania reported Simmons has expressed he wants to play but isn’t mentally prepared. 

ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the next steps for Simmons will be “based upon the determination of medical professionals.” 

Georges Niang preferred not to share details of the meeting with Simmons. 

“The locker room is a sacred place,” he said. I don’t really feel comfortable sharing team business, especially when it’s being addressed in the locker room. Obviously Ben addressed us today and you guys know that. … But the locker room has always been a sacred place to me. What’s said and done in there I don’t really feel comfortable revealing, and that’s how I’ve been since Day 1.”

Did the team exit the meeting in a good place?

“Yeah, I think we left the meeting understanding what he had to say,” Niang said. “And we came out and got ready for Brooklyn.”

Tobias Harris tweeted the Sixers would “embrace our brother” when Simmons is ready to play.