Return of the Prodigal Son? 76ers Welcome Back Ben Simmons as They Prepare for Season Opener vs Pelicans

Ben Simmons has come full circle in the last quarter-year. From being the leading Philly figure to becoming the most hated player and now again back to staying in Philadelphia, it has been a 360 degrees turnaround. It’s as if Ben and his fans are yin and yang of some sort, often contradictory and yet interconnected.

The Sixers went 2-2 in the preseason and they certainly missed the presence of their lost All-Star. Now, with a sureshot comeback of Ben, the Philly franchise seems to have forgotten the recent past.

Ben Simmons is in Philly and things are back to normal

After a green signal from the league’s safety protocols, Ben Simmons finally joined his team. He practiced alongside the full roster on Sunday i.e. October 17th, marking his comeback. Although the 25-YO did not obviously interact with the media, his return overall left a positive vibe coming from Elton Brand’s organization.

About Ben’s first official game in the 2021-22 season, coach Doc Rivers did not reveal anything. The 60-YO, instead, explained that he’s keeping an eye on the conditioning of the star point guard. Morever, he also revealed how they were able to cut down the tension by using humor to re-introduce Ben to his team.

So it is highly unlikely that he’ll play on October 20th against the Pelicans, but maybe he gets to play a few minutes against the Nets on October 22nd. It will be interesting to see how the Wells Fargo Center reacts to #25 jersey when he steps on the court.

Read more: NBA Insider Adrian Wojnarowski Drops Brutal Truth on Kyrie Irving-Ben Simmons Trade

Philadelphia Sixers players react to the All-Star’s return

Earlier, former Sixers legend Allen Iverson had sent out a message to Ben. And now, the media is keen on finding out how his teammates felt when the 3x All-Star came back after months of bitterness. 

While Furkan Korkmaz shared how he was extremely happy to have Ben back, Tobias also had something to add. The 29-YO expressed in an interview, “I’m not about to tell this man’s conversation… I didn’t start as asking, hey bro, why’d you come back?” and hinted that things were just fine.

Well, the Sixers were considering them title contenders even with no Ben Simmons on the squad. So his arrival will definitely help Joel Embiid and men with greater strength on both ends of the court. Stay tuned for more latest updates.

Watch this story: Ben Simmons and Other Stars Who Must Prove Themselves in This Season