After receiving a hefty fine for missing the 76ers first preseason game, Ben Simmons might be reconsidering his holdout.
Last week, Ben Simmons liked an Instagram post with a graphic detailing the fines he could receive for missing out on the Philadelphia 76ers practices and games. But the fine he received after missing the 76ers first preseason game seems like one he was not expecting.
After being levied a $360,000 fine for missing Monday night’s game, there are reports that the Simmons camp might start to reconsider the cost of this holdout.
Kyle Neubeck of the Philly Voice reports that following the fine, Simmons’ representation met with the players association to discuss the possibility of him recouping what was lost but it didn’t go well for his camp.
“Simmons’ representation had another discussion with the players association in which it was reiterated they would be unable to recoup the money being deducted from the $8.25 million sitting in escrow, sources say, and it was communicated to the Sixers that these early fines were perhaps higher than they expected,” Neubeck wrote.
76ers not playing around with Ben Simmons
If Simmons and his representation were not cognizant of the degree of the fines he could face, they might not have fully prepared themselves for this protest to get the All-Star guard out of Philadelphia. But this is unlikely, as Simmons and his agent Rich Paul, have made it clear that there is no future in sight where Simmons suits up for the 76ers again.
Both sides are choosing to remain staunch in their stances and will likely not relent any time soon. But per this report, the weight of the struggle has tipped in favor of the 76ers, who can continue to slap fines on to Simmons’ salary that they withheld from him.
The longer he holds out, the more money he loses. For the 76ers, the longer he holds out, the more they get to gel with the players who are showing up.