On Friday, Beijing time, the Nets will play away to the 76ers, and Simmons is sure not to play that game, but will watch from the sidelines. A question arises, should Philadelphia prepare a video tribute session for Ben Simmons?
Philadelphia's manager Rivers responded: "Ben [Simmons] has done a lot of great things here. Although leaving is not very good-looking, it is like not a happy marriage. I don't know if we're going to engage (video tribute), and if we're ready, I'm okay with that. The topic was also discussed on the NBA Today show, where two famous mouths, Richard Jefferson and Kendrick Perkins, agreed that Philadelphia should not pay tribute to Simmons on video.
"We should avoid doing things like preparing a tribute video for someone who abandons the team. I think Doug (Rivers) knows what he's doing, and he's just saying that just to ease the mood. Perkins said.
Jefferson simply called the question of whether to salute a "very stupid one." He said Simmons didn't deserve anything from the 76ers and said the treatment of the video tribute should belong to some of the heroes who led the team to win the championship, or to players who have contributed to the team for a long time. Jefferson also cited Irving as an example: "Will Boston prepare a tribute video for Irving?" Apparently, in Jefferson's view, Simmons' departure from Philadelphia is somewhat similar to Irving's departure from Boston, both of which are unhappy, and neither of them has contributed much to the team, and does not deserve the treatment of a video tribute.
Both Jefferson and Perkins believe that Philadelphia fans have always been enthusiastic, and if the video pays tribute to Simmons, I am afraid it will attract more boos, of course, whether there is a tribute video or not, Simmons will definitely be booed by the fans, and he himself is ready. Just today, Durant teased the dilemma Simmons might face: He could get a $40 million a year in salary, and it was absolutely fine to endure a few hours. Speaking of salaries, it was previously reported that Simmons plans to formally appeal arbitration in the next few days to recover the $20 million he was fined by 76 people.